Noosa takes action on climate change
Fri 04 November 2011
Sharon Wright, USC Bachelor of Social Science
The draft Noosa Climate Action Plan was released on October 8, 2011, by Noosa Biosphere Ltd and is currently seeking public input.
The plan comes after 18 months of research and collaboration with local community groups, individuals, businesses and institutions.
In an effort to share community knowledge and understanding of climate change, Noosa Biosphere Ltd held a series of public meetings and workshops, facilitated by SEQ Catchments and the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).
The aim was to develop a collective adaptation action plan to combat the possible effects of climate change on the Noosa region.
SEQ Catchments community partnerships manager Susie Chapman said the process had been highly successful and demonstrated the resilience of the Noosa community.
“A really important underpinning of this process is to acknowledge all of the wonderful community initiatives that are currently going on and to appreciate those in a new a light,” Ms Chapman said.
The meetings were structured on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) climate proofing model, which is a collaborative process combining top-down and bottom-up approaches to ensure shared responsibility, good governance and review.
“Climate proofing is a sequential process towards building resilience and minimising risk for both residents and business. Liability is minimised and shared in this process,” Ms Chapman said.
“This strategy has been applied effectively in other vulnerable regions such as the Pacific Islands and Bribie Island.”
The Australian Bureau of Statistics stated that Southeast Queensland was one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, attracting more than 2,200 new residents every week.
In its Fourth Assessment Report 2007, the IPCC deemed the region one of the two vulnerability hot spots in Australia.
This evaluation was based on the effects projected sea level rise, storm surge and flooding would have on the natural environment, private property and businesses.
USC climate change lecturer and Noosa Biosphere Ltd education, research and development sector board member Kate English explained that climate change was a slow but steady process.
“We know historically that temperature has increased by 0.75 degrees over the past 100 years. IPCC modelling projects that this trend will continue," Ms English said.
“As global temperature increases so does the pressure in the weather system, resulting in more frequent and destructive storms. This leads to storm surges, erosion and flooding.”
The Noosa Climate Action Plan identified seven priority action areas: health and lifestyle; economy; emergency management; biodiversity; agriculture; coastal management and planning and infrastructure.
Noosa Biosphere Ltd environment sector board chair Mary-Jane Weld highlighted some of the innovative solutions that emerged from the community workshops.
“Most of the climate adaptation actions identified by the community also have the effect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a host of other benefits such as improved health and well-being and sense of community,” Ms Weld said.
“Examples of these include local food production and supply and biodiversity linkage initiatives.
“This climate action plan offers our community the chance to view their biosphere through a new window that turns threats into opportunities and adapting to climate change requires an integrated positive approach by a well-informed and cohesive community.”
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) awarded the area encompassing the former Noosa Shire, Biosphere Reserve status under its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program in October 2007.
UNESCO’s MAB program recognises regional areas which adopt social, economic and environmental sustainability programs and policies to protect the natural environment.
Currently there are over 550 biosphere reserves globally.
The Noosa Biosphere Ltd acts as an intermediary between the Sunshine Coast Council and the community.
It is made up of a governance board and six sector boards: cultural; economic; environment; education, research and development; social and tourism.
Ms English explained that Noosa achieved MAB status due to its unique native flora and fauna, and the efforts of local people to protect these high biodiversity areas.
“The former Noosa Shire was extremely protective of the environment and had a long vision of making sure they protected it for decades to come," Ms English said.
“Those of us who live in Noosa now are blessed that we have that legacy. We have to pledge that we continue to promote it through education.”
Noosa Biosphere Ltd chairman Michael Donovan said the Noosa Biosphere Reserve had been put forward by UNESCO as a model of best practice for other countries to emulate.
“UNESCO has sent delegates from China, Canada, Hawaii and Peru to look at our model. They consider us to be one of the foremost leading laboratories in the Man and the Biosphere program,” Mr Donovan said.
“The climate action plan has been selected in the top 28 countries for its innovative approach, which is recognised globally as an outstanding achievement.”
The draft Noosa Climate Action Plan is open for public comment until November 15, 2011.
Image(s) designed by Sharon Wright