Climate & resilience Tools and Resources for councils
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Adapting to climate change means adjusting the way we live, work, and plan so we can prepare for and build resilience against its impacts.
Councils have a key responsibility to understand their climate risks across their roles, responsibilities, assets, and services. Insurers are also increasingly asking councils to show how they are managing these risks. To reduce exposure to potential liability, councils should:
Stay up to date with climate science and information, especially regarding risks from natural hazards.
Develop clear and consistent criteria for decision-making to build public confidence that decisions are based on the best available evidence.
Exercise reasonable care in planning decisions, ensuring relevant facts are known, understood, and clearly documented.
Encourage public consultation to improve transparency and strengthen trust in decision-making processes.
Provide up-to-date information to property owners about potential risks to their properties.
To help councils strengthen their climate governance and understand their risk profiles, the following resources have been developed:
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Councils are responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use across their assets, including buildings, vehicle fleets, public and street lighting, recreational facilities, and waste management services. has developed Council Carbon and Energy Footprints (CCEFs) for 2019–2023 to help north-east councils understand their carbon emissions and energy use across all assets and services. These footprints identify where councils can reduce emissions and save on energy costs.
The CCEFs are based on data from councils’ electricity and fuel (petrol, diesel, LPG) bills and use the national carbon accounting methods outlined by the Australian Government in the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Measurement) Determination 2008.
The Carbon and Energy Footprint Fact Sheets explain the key concepts and methods used to prepare the CCEFs and guide councils in their decision-making:
The Tasmanian Council Carbon and Energy Calculator allows councils to prepare annual CCEFs and track their progress in reducing emissions over time.
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Climate Infographics available for download and use in council reports, documents and promotions please cite: Northern Tasmanian Alliance for Resilient Councils. (2025, October). Tasmanian Councils Supporting Climate, Healthy & Resilient Communities. West Tamar Council, Tasmania. © Northern Tasmanian Alliance for Resilient Councils, 2025