Shire launches Climate Action Plan

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River will launch its Climate Action Plan on Friday 10 September at an event jointly hosted with Augusta Margaret River Clean Community Energy (AMRCCE). The event will include an address by the Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA, Minister for Environment, Climate Action and Commerce; Shire President, Ian Earl and AMRCCE Chair Professor David Wood.   Developed following the community-driven Climate Action Summit, the Climate Action Plan outlines a detailed program of initiatives under the themes of Policy and Education, Energy and Emissions, Transport and Waste. It also announces the Shire’s goal of Net Zero emissions by 2030. Shire of Augusta Margaret River CEO Stephanie Addison-Brown explained, “This Plan identifies a wide range of actions for the Shire organisation and the community so that we can reduce emissions and achieve carbon reduction targets. We recognise that this is an issue that’s close to our community’s heart, and we’re proud to announce such a comprehensive and detailed plan to reach that Net Zero goal.” The AMRCCE will also launch ZERO: Towards Zero Emissions; a Shire-supported Zero Interest Loans initiative for climate beneficial projects in the Augusta Margaret River region. AMRCCE’s Professor Wood stated, “We aim to lower the barrier of up-front capital cost in accessing renewable energy initially for not-for-profit community organisations and hope to eventually expand into funding low-income individual households.” The program will launch with seed funding of more than $60,000 from contributions of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Clear Energy and community donations.  AMRCCE ZERO is one of several projects run by AMRCCE, a not-for-profit community action group dedicated to protecting the natural environment, working to support the target set out in the Shire’s Climate Action Plan of achieving zero emissions by 2030. The Climate Action Plan is available on the Shire’s webpage on bit.ly/3h5TAhm

Details for the launch event are: Date: Friday 10 September 2021 Time: 3pm Place: Council Chambers Foyer, Margaret River Shire Offices