Local Governments and Sustainability Survey

Local Governments and Sustainability Survey 2013-2014

The information contained in this document produced by Ironbark Group Pty. Ltd is solely for the use of the client identified on the cover sheet for the purpose for which it has been prepared. Ironbark Group Pty. Ltd undertakes no duty to or accepts any responsibility to any third party who may rely upon this document. 2014 Ironbark Group Pty. Ltd. Suite 8, 70-80 Wellington St Collingwood 3066 ABN: 51 127 566 090 Ph. 1300 288 262 About Ironbark Sustainability Ironbark Sustainability is a specialist consultancy that works with government and business around Australia by assisting them to reduce energy and water usage through sustainable asset and data management and on-the-ground implementation. Ironbark has been operating since 2005 and brings together a wealth of technical and financial analysis, maintenance and implementation experience in the areas of building energy and water efficiency, public lighting and data management. Ironbark provides public lighting support nationally around technology advice and approvals, business cases and projects. Ironbark delivers strategic and specific advice and support for the establishment of effective environmental management systems for government and business clients. We pride ourselves on supporting our clients to achieve real action regarding the sustainable management of their operations. Our Mission Ironbark s mission is to facilitate progressive sustainability outcomes through practical and realistic support for councils and their communities. About ICLEI Oceania ICLEI Oceania is the Regional Directorate of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island nations and as the name suggests is committed to sustainability principles policies and practices. For over a decade ICLEI Oceania implemented the internationally renowned Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) program to councils in Australia and New Zealand. CCP resulted in a total of 18 million tonnes of carbon abatement, council investment of $203 million and energy savings of $95 million. More importantly, the program involved the reporting of the local government sector s total carbon abatement to the Federal Government and the wider community. ICLEI s expertise and experience is in brokering political commitment and management support for local government climate action is widely recognised. In Australia 238 councils participated in the Cities for Climate Protection program and followed a planning, decision-making and reporting framework for local climate change action. ICLEI has an unmatched record in assisting local councils bridge the gap between their communities aspirations and their ability to deliver climate abatement and adaptation/resilient programs. ICLEI offers practical guidance, expertise and proven approaches that deliver tangible results. www.realaction.com.au 2 of 16

Contents Introduction... 4 About Respondents... 5 Sustainability Definitions and KPIs... 6 Why is sustainability important to you as an individual?... 7 Formal Sustainability Frameworks... 8 External Sustainability Support and Expertise... 9 Council Programs and Frameworks... 11 Cities for Climate Protection (CCP)... 11 One Planet Councils... 12 ICLEI Water Campaign... 12 State of the Environment Reporting (SoE)... 13 Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)... 14 Other Reporting Frameworks... 15 What do councils want to know more about?... 16 www.realaction.com.au 3 of 16

Introduction Throughout 2013-2014, ICLEI Oceania and Ironbark Sustainability surveyed councils from around Australia and New Zealand (ICLEI Members and non-members) with questions around sustainability and their council. There were some interesting responses, and we ve collated some of the highlights in two reports. In this report we summarise the survey by investigating what formal sustainable policy and reporting frameworks councils use and what external services and alliances they tap into to support their sustainability efforts. We also examine what formal definitions of sustainability councils use and why sustainability is important to council staff as individuals. We also gather opinions on a variety of sustainability-related programs or frameworks for local government and look at what the hot topics are for 2014 and into the future. www.realaction.com.au 4 of 16

About Respondents We would like to thank the 83 people who responded to the survey with insightful and candid comments. Most respondents (76) came from local government, representing 67 Australian councils and 1 New Zealand Council. A couple of regional alliance representatives responded to the survey as did 2 external providers, a researcher and a community group. 35 of the respondents were members of ICLEI Oceania. External provider External researchers Australian councils New Zealand councils Regional Alliance Representative Community Group Figure 1. Respondents There was a cross representation of regional, rural and urban councils. We also received results from people that play different roles within the councils. Over threequarters (76%) were either officers, team leaders or coordinators and 15% senior management. 8% of respondents were elected members. Councillor or previously a councillor Senior Management Team Leader/Coordinator Officer Other Figure 2. Origin of respondents and position www.realaction.com.au 5 of 16

Sustainability Definitions and KPIs Sixty per cent of respondents said their councils have a definition for sustainability at a policy level. Those that have a formal definition were asked what terms their councils use to describe sustainability. The terms liveability, well-being, and economic growth are almost as commonly used as the term low carbon. Health and the built and/or natural environment are also popular terms. Figure 3. Councils who have a definition for sustainability at a policy level There is an interesting disjuncture between the terms councils use to describe sustainability, and the KPIs used to measure sustainability progress. Despite the emphasis on economic growth, liveability and well-being when describing sustainability (Figure 4), the KPIs focus more on energy, carbon, water, and waste and at many councils, community engagement (Figure 5). Low carbon Liveability Well being Economic Growth Health Built and/or Natural Environment Jobs Miscellaneous Social Equity ESD Figure 4. Terms used to describe sustainability For example, only 1% of respondents said that finance is a sustainability KPI, which is markedly different to the 47% respondents who said that economic growth is a term used to describe sustainability. This disconnect can perhaps be attributed to the fact that 35% don't have a formal definition for sustainability at a policy level (13% of respondents said their council don t have any sustainability KPIs). It may also be attributed to the fact that terms such as liveability are more difficult to measure than carbon. Or perhaps these terms are already measured through other mechanisms or areas at council (e.g. the business and community). www.realaction.com.au 6 of 16

Figure 5. Sustainability KPIs Carbon Emissions Energy use Water Use Waste Community Engagement Weeds Sustainable Transport Water Quality Biodiversity Environmental Scorecard Financial Others No indicators Why is sustainability important to you as an individual? We asked our respondents why sustainability is important to them because this gives us insight into the driving forces behind council initiatives and why certain aspects of sustainability are seen as more critical than others. Some of the predominate responses included: It s vital that we do things better today for future generations because it s common sense and it s everyone s responsibility Because we have no other choice as a species and we should protect the planet We need to live within our means It encompasses and integrates social, environmental and economic principles to ensure that we use our natural resources wisely, address market failures and also make sustainable living accessible to all members of our community It is important to use resources as efficiently as possible, especially in the context of a changing climate and population growth Maintenance and improvement of our life services, air, water, soil, and biodiversity is essential for our future and the planet as we know it. www.realaction.com.au 7 of 16

Formal Sustainability Frameworks A little more than half the respondents have a formal framework to measure and manage sustainability outcomes. The State of the Environment is the more commonly used framework, followed by NGERS then the Global Reporting Initiative. Two respondents said their councils use NCOS, while another 2 use NCOS in a voluntary capacity. A small portion (8) of councils that don't have a formal framework have an internal reporting mechanism instead. Twenty-two per cent of respondents without a formal framework said that they are either interested in a formal framework, or are 'maybe' interested. Three of the 68 councils report under more than one framework. Figure 6. Formal sustainability reporting frameworks Those that use formal frameworks mainly use them for building internal capacity with only 12 using them for benchmarking against other councils. www.realaction.com.au 8 of 16

External Sustainability Support and Expertise Many councils seek external support or expertise to improve sustainability from a number of different sources. External consultants, other councils, local government associations (LGA) and alliances or regions of councils are the ones most commonly sourced. Those councils who do use external services expressed some level of satisfaction in these services. Very few said they weren t satisfied. Alliances or regions of councils along with other councils received the highest number of very satisfied responses from those surveyed. Figure 7. Where respondents seek external support or expertise. Selected comments about external providers of support or expertise: The most useful are associations with concise case studies and tools, as opposed to lengthy engagement methods. Industry associations are very useful. We seek support from state agencies, DSE, CMA etc. Because state budget cuts are having a profound effect on access to expertise and opportunities in our region to achieve progress through partnerships (VIC) As a regional council we get little benefit from state based efforts (WA) These support networks are essential. Our region is such a large area it is difficult sometimes to keep up to date with what other councils are doing. (Support networks) have worked well on specific partnership projects - such as street light upgrades which prompted more frequent phone conferences between officers across the region (VIC). Our LGA gets a ton of money but is less than supportive in the way it operates for rural councils. One example is that it gives little practical consideration for long distance travel and regularly makes no provision for video conferencing. Network groups with regional alliances and LGMAs are the most effective forms of support. We engage broadly with our neighbours and State/National organisations. We also partner with commercial firms in the development of ideas and technology. Partnering is the key to our success. Our regional alliance lacks direction. The sustainability field isn't moving as fast as the needs and expectations are. Alliances, associations etc. can't grasp what it s like to be at Local Government and instead try to grab at key buzz words and concepts at the time. www.realaction.com.au 9 of 16

Their role within the local government field is diminishing as a result, new ways of thinking need to occur. Consultants however are usually on top of this- you ask for something and they deliver. But again not asking for them to think long terms, rather can you deliver this piece of work for me right now. Information is often eastern states based - difficult sometimes to get support in Western Australia. A majority of local councils are keen for more networking opportunities with other local governments. While there are dozens of formal and informal networking opportunities available, there was a perceived gap at a national level and respondents were keen on more opportunities. Figure 8. Interest in more networking opportunities with other councils www.realaction.com.au 10 of 16

Council Programs and Frameworks The survey asked about respondents opinions on a variety of sustainability-related programs or frameworks for local government. Some are current and some are no longer available, and the responses demonstrate that there is a gap in the local government landscape with the lack of a comprehensive national program. The survey asked the following questions for each of the programs or frameworks: Are you aware of, or have you ever been involved in the following programs? If YES what were the positive aspects of the program and how could they have been improved? Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Yes - I've been involved 36% Yes - I know of it 36% No 28% Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) program was initiated by ICLEI Oceania in the early 1990s and focused on the greenhouse gas emissions that local governments contribute to global warming directly. When respondents were asked what level of involvement they had in the program, roughly one third had never heard of the program, however two-thirds and heard of it or been involved. This is surprising given that CCP has not been active for around 5 years. It is still the most well-known and understood program. Figure 3. How many respondents have heard of CCP In regards to the best aspect of the program, many respondents believed that CCP provided councils with a realistic framework with achievable goals, which allowed them to benchmark against each other whilst encouraging action on climate mitigation. Certainly the comments are heavily weighted towards the benchmarking and structured nature of the program. In terms of how it could have been improved, the majority of respondents said that CCP should have been given more funding and government support and it was preferred that the program continued. A few commented that following progression through the initial 5 milestones, there wasn t as much value provided for councils to take the next step. www.realaction.com.au 11 of 16

One Planet Councils When asked about the One Planet Councils framework, 46 per cent had heard of it. The reporting principles allow Australian local governments to assess their sustainability programs against a simple concept: do we consume more or less than our share of one planet's worth of resources? The framework also allows councils to compare their operational footprint with other councils around the world and addresses all major aspects of environmental, social and economic sustainability. Since there are only ten areas that are analysed, the framework provides councils with a manageable, yet comprehensive structure. Respondents liked the simplicity of the message however would like to see more information and reserve judgement on areas to improve. ICLEI Water Campaign The ICLEI Water Campaign was launched in 2000 and promotes the development of local water action plans to achieve tangible improvements in local water quality, conservation and access and a range of local initiatives have been taken to different regions across the world. Yes - I've been involved 30% No 28% At the time of the survey, over two-thirds of respondents had heard of the ICLEI Water Campaign or been involved which displays the extent of the program s reach. Several respondents said that the campaign provided a good model for councils to follow as it started the process for council s to start reducing water use and set a target for water quantity and quality. Yes - I know of it 42% Figure 6. How many respondents have heard of the ICLEI Water Campaign In terms of areas of improvement, some respondents said that the program would have benefitted from more funding and that it did not keep up with advancements in integrated water management and that the data reporting process was onerous and could be improved. Similar to the comments around CCP there were criticisms that the program was less valuable for the more advanced councils and projects. www.realaction.com.au 12 of 16

Green Star Communities The Green Star - Communities rating tool is one of the world s first independent, transparent, national schemes able to assess and certify the sustainability of community-level projects. Green Star - Communities is a voluntary rating tool, which provides best practice benchmarks and third-party verification of the sustainability of community and precinct-wide developments. At the time of this survey, many respondents had heard of the program but hadn t used it. One respondent said they were currently involved in the pilot but more information on this will be made available once we know more. State of the Environment Reporting (SoE) The State of the Environment (SoE) reporting takes place at the national and state level. Some regional-scale reporting also occurs in many areas and the analysis of trends identifies areas such as water quality, air quality, land use, ecosystem health and functions, along with social and cultural issues. 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Yes - I know of it or have been involved No - I've never heard of it Figure 8. How many respondents have heard of the State of the Environment Reporting (SoE) framework Because it has been mandatory in many jurisdictions, most respondents had heard of it or been involved. SoE has been a comprehensive collection of environmental information and helps councils provide a robust summary to their communities on a variety of environmental indicators. One council member said that it acted as an early warning system and indicated priority areas for action. However, some mentioned that the reporting method could be improved by providing councils with common indicators to report on so there was some consistency across the board. www.realaction.com.au 13 of 16

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 41% 14% 45% Yes - I know of it Yes - I've been involved No The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a not-forprofit organisation that promotes the use of sustainability reporting as a means for organisations to provide transparency and accountability and contribute to sustainable development. Figure 9. How many respondents have heard of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) The GRI framework is extremely comprehensive and uses a number of indicators to look at economic, environmental and social impacts. It s regarded as the most prevalent reporting mechanism in the world and is used by more than 4,000 organisations from 60 countries around the world. When our respondents were asked about the GRI, most said they had heard of it or been involved, however 41% had not heard of it. Considering the international breadth of the GRI, this may be considered surprising, but it also indicates that it s either not accessible at the local government level or other reporting mechanisms may be more appropriate. For those who had heard of or been involved in GRI reporting, they said that it has indicators for all areas of the triple bottom line, not just the environment and that it s an example of best practice in sustainability reporting. The benefits of using the GRI included the fact that since it is so comprehensive, it requires councils to report on areas that are not necessarily doing well, which provides a higher degree of transparency. Some suggested that the language around GRI was confusing and others that the auditing requirements were arduous. www.realaction.com.au 14 of 16

Other Reporting Frameworks When asked if there were any other sustainability frameworks respondents had been involved in, several mechanisms that were mentioned include Carbon Neutral Accreditation, Environment Management Systems, the Sustainability Advantage Program, the Victorian State Government Sustainability Accord and NSW Water and Energy Savings Action Plans. However, based on the variety of answers provided, it s clear that a sustainability reporting on a council level varies on a case-by-case basis and there is no single mechanism that is used by the majority. 6% Yes Additionally, when respondents were asked if their council used a formal framework to measure and manage sustainability outcomes, 55 per cent said yes, and 45 per cent said no or they were not sure. 39% 55% No Not sure While the majority is using some form of sustainability reporting, there is no inclusive reporting mechanism that allows councils to be able to benchmark against each other. Figure 10. How many councils have a formal framework to measure sustainability outcomes www.realaction.com.au 15 of 16

What do councils want to know more about? In the final question of the survey, we asked councils what research topics they want to know more about. It is interesting to see what the current trends are and what areas are becoming less prevalent. Out of 27 topics, the top three most popular research areas included energy efficiency in leisure centres, reducing emissions from fleet and street lighting. Energy efficiency in leisure centres Reducing emissions from fleet Street lighting How to manage energy in small facilities Park lighting Solar PV Environmental data management Building ratings tools Behaviour change Urban design Carbon neutrality Community education Overarching sustainability strategies Utility scale solar Local food production Setting up green teams Building technologies Applying for grants Biodiversity Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Cogeneration and Trigeneration Urban design frameworks Electric vehicles Energy Performance Contracting (EPCs) Purchasing offsets Working with consultants Working with other council stakeholders 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Figure 11. What research areas do councils want to know more about? www.realaction.com.au 16 of 16