Climate change

Trends in the Tweed's climate have been assessed and a summary provided below based on historical local weather data:

Read the consultant's full report(PDF, 4MB).

The Tweed's wildlife, waterways, coastlines, utilities, infrastructure, businesses and communities are vulnerable to climate events.

Present-day climate trends and future projections have been calculated using NSW Government data sources and CSIRO reports:

Read more in the consultant's full report(PDF, 4MB).

Find out more about climate change projections for the North Coast.

A joint climate risk analysis with Byron Shire Council in 2009 outlined key risks and adaptation actions:

• the introduction or proliferation of exotic plant, animal and insect species
• loss of biodiversity
• habitat displacement
• increased flood level and frequency
• higher evaporation and longer drought
• effect on freshwater supply
• coastal erosion
• impacts on coastal development
• decline in the local economy
• increased bushfire events

Check out the Preparing for Change section below for information about how Council is responding to these risks.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2018 Special Report on the impact of global warming advocates for reducing global CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions by 45% from 2010 by 2030.

To do this would 'require rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy, land, urban and infrastructure (including transport and buildings), and industrial systems. These systems transitions are unprecedented in terms of scale, but not necessarily in terms of speed, and imply deep emissions reductions in all sectors, a wide portfolio of mitigation options and a significant up-scaling of investments in those options'.

Electricity in homes and businesses, transport fuels and waste are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions from across the Tweed.

From these major sources of emissions, we each create at least 11 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per person per year. Collectively we need to reduce our carbon footprint to less than 4 tonnes CO2-e per person per year to avoid dangerous changes in global temperatures.

Source: snapshotclimate.com.au

Avoiding coal and gas sourced electricity is an important way to reduce the Tweed’s most significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Find out how to reduce your electricity bills.

Increasing walking, cycling, public transport and renewable transport fuels is needed to tackle Tweed’s next most significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Find out more information about electric vehicles.

Visit Council’s roads and transport page for details about footpaths, cycleways and public transport in the Tweed.

To work out your household’s carbon footprint, and to explore how your lifestyle contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, check out the Australian Greenhouse Calculator.

Find out more about a climate-friendly lifestyle.

Visit Sustainable Operations to find out more about Council's actions to reduce its emissions and environmental impacts.

Preparing the North Coast region for the impacts of climate change is imperative. Six major themes are key factors in the resilience of the North Coast to current and future climate impacts:

1. the narrow coastal plain, and sensitivity to changes in flooding and sea level rise
2. population demographics and change
3. infrastructure and settlements exposed to current and future climate impacts
4. regional networks, making them strong and effective
5. leadership across government, business and the community for an adaptive region
6. funding models and priorities, including increasing cost pressures and revenue losses

Find out more about the 2016 North Coast Integrated Regional Vulnerability Assessment

The 2019 North Coast Enabling Regional Adaptation report (ERA) describes potential pathways to respond to the impacts of climate change on the systems our region relies on.

Tweed Shire Council is helping to build adaptation to climate change consistent with the ERA including:

• settlements and land-use planning:

• sharing flood information via the Tweed Open Data Hub
• providing guidelines for minimising coastal hazard risks(PDF, 488KB) to land development on the Tweed Coast
• The Industry Central Land Swap assists businesses within the high-risk flood zone in the South Murwillumbah industrial precinct to relocate to land above the 1 in 100 year flood level via a conditional land swap agreement.

• resilient communities: working with the community to build safe, healthy and more inclusive communities in the Tweed
• cultural heritage: strengthening Council's relationship with the Aboriginal community through a Reconciliation Action Plan(PDF, 2MB)
• biodiversity: targeting bushland management, providing support for threatened species and communities, and reducing threats to biodiversity
• emergency management: providing Tweed residents with links, useful information and contacts in an emergency via the Emergency Dashboard
• food and agriculture : working to improve the viability and environmental capacity of the Tweed's farmlands
• infrastructure: Council’s Sustainable Design Guidelines(PDF, 830KB) help incorporate resilience to regional climate predictions in Council buildings and infrastructure.
• water security:
  • raising the wall of Clarrie Hall Dam to meet the demands of the shire’s growing population and address the anticipated effects of climate change on the amount of water available to meet demand, particularly during severe drought. Find out more about the latest project updates
  • protecting the Tweed’s raw water source from tidal inundation of Bray Park Weir due to climate change
  • reviewing against best-practice our ongoing work towards augmenting the water supply and improving the outcomes of water saving and drought management initiatives
• energy: helping the community with energy saver workshops, ideas and a solar buyers’ guide , while investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy for Council facilities to produce 25% of Council’s own electricity from renewables by 2022, and 50% by 2025
• tourism: appointing the Tweed Tourism Company to lead the Tweed’s marketing, experience and tourism development, major event promotions and visitor information services

Climate emergency

At its 19 September 2019 Council meeting, Tweed Shire Council declared a climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government, including by local councils.

Council’s Interim climate change action plan(PDF, 546KB) describes 57 greenhouse gas emissions reduction and climate adaptation actions in response to the climate emergency.

Find out more about Council’s Climate Change Management Policy(PDF, 168KB)

Global Covenant of Mayors

More than 11,700 cities from 120 countries representing more than 1 billion people worldwide are part of a global alliance for local government climate leadership. Councils commit to advance climate action in three key areas:

1. reducing greenhouse gas emissions
2. identifying – and adapting to – the risks associated with climate change
3. increasing access to clean and affordable energy

Check out Tweed Shire's reporting dashboard.

Our progress is recognised by a system of badges. In 2021, Tweed Shire Council achieved the following badges:

CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)

Tweed Shire Council reports its climate action via the CDP reporting platform, joining over 1000 other council areas globally who do the same.

Check out Tweed Shire’s reporting details.

Tweed Shire has been recognised as one of 122 cities on the 2022 CDP Cities A List for our efforts to reduce emissions and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

To score an A we:

• disclose publicly through CDP-ICLEI Track
• have a city-wide emissions inventory
• have published a climate action plan
• complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment
• have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how we will tackle climate hazards.