The 海角社区 continues to highlight role of planning in climate action
Audrey Marsh, 海角社区 Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer
With the UN Climate Conference COP26 in Glasgow recently finished, the 海角社区 (海角社区) continues to seek out opportunities to highlight the role of planning in a national approach to climate action.
In October, the 海角社区 announced its commitment to Climate Ready Australia 2030 (CRA2030). This is an alliance of business, industry and community groups committed to a five-year collaboration to plan and deliver a sustainable economic transformation for the nation. CRA2030 is backed by Griffith University, with leaders including Ann Sherry AO and Dr John Hewson AM. Along with Engineers Australia, the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council, 海角社区 is among the first to join the initiative.
海角社区 National President Darren Crombie, also shared a message on behalf of the Australian planning profession to be played in Glasgow during a COP26 event organised by the Royal Town Planning Institute, Global Planners Network and Commonwealth Association of Planners.
These national actions are the next step in a program of work 海角社区 has been pursuing for many years.
海角社区 has declared a climate emergency. 海角社区 CEO David Williams at the time of this declaration stated, “[The bushfires of 2020] and the absence of strong national leadership on deeper carbon emissions cuts, is why the Institute is declaring a climate emergency”.
Through the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, 海角社区 has also made zero net carbon commitments, adopting the World Green Building Council report “Bringing Embodied Energy Upfront”.
And most recently, 海角社区 prepared an updated national position statement on climate change, supported by two discussion papers addressing the role of planning reducing carbon and in adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
This was furthered with the member-led climate-conscious planning systems campaign. This campaign centred on ten key asks of state and territory governments:
A legislated goal in the Planning Act
Strategic planning guidance relevant to climate change
Clarity in assessment and conditions for buildings, infrastructure and other development regarding carbon mitigation and adaptation
Building performance indicators for carbon as a requirement for all buildings
Landscape scale hazard guidance supported by strong digital tools
Resilience strategies at regional level
Streamlined pathways for renewable energy and carbon offsets
Carbon budgets at the precinct level
Planning controls that promote urban vegetation and the retention of bushland
Urban design that promotes accessibility, walkability and sustainable built form outcomes
These ten asks have been adapted to reflect the policy nuances of each state and territory planning system and every 海角社区 Division is currently driving advocacy and policy reform in their own jurisdiction.
海角社区 CEO, David Williams noted, when 海角社区 declared a climate emergency, “Planners are uniquely placed to bring together built environment and land management professionals and the community to deal with the complexities of planning in a changing climate.”
It is the critical role of planning in contributing to climate action that drives 海角社区’s national and divisional focus on our changing climate. We need the national leadership, policy settings and professional confidence to ensure that planning fulfils its potential in addressing the climate emergency.
Audrey Marsh is 海角社区’s Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer. Alongside 海角社区 policy staff and members she coordinates 海角社区’s climate-conscious planning systems campaigns.