Climate Action

The natural greenhouse effect warms the planet to an optimum temperature for life on Earth. For millions of years, water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases have occurred naturally, heating the atmosphere and making Earth liveable.

However, human activities – mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, intensive agriculture and land clearing – have tipped the balance and are causing greenhouse gas concentrations to rise above natural levels. The enhanced greenhouse effect has resulted in the planet warming beyond optimum conditions.

As global temperatures rise, weather patterns worldwide have changed and will continue to change, affecting the long-term climate. The enhanced greenhouse effect is often called global warming or climate change.

What are the impacts?

The impacts of climate change are already being felt locally and worldwide, and will increase into the future. Much of Victoria, including Hume, has recently experienced drought conditions lasting more than a decade and severe local weather events. Hume is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts due to the demographic make-up (people on low incomes and from diverse cultures are more at risk of climate impacts), biodiversity values and the large proportion of the municipality that is rural – with agricultural activities already threatened by low rainfall. Due to Hume’s status as a growth area, there are also opportunities to plan and influence new development to be well suited to future climate conditions.

Some of the direct climate change impacts for south eastern Australia will include:

• Hotter, drier conditions
• Reduced overall rainfall
• More extreme weather events including storms, strong winds, hail and heavy downpours
• Rising sea levels.  

These impacts will give rise to a greater number of and more intense extreme events including:

• Fires
• Heat waves
• Droughts
• Floods.

There are also secondary impacts of climate change (impacts arising from direct climate impacts) such as:

• Spread of diseases, e.g. spread of mosquito borne diseases such as Dengue Fever and Ross River virus
• Health and wellbeing, e.g. heat stress, mental health issues
• Food and agriculture, e.g. land no longer suitable for agriculture, damage to crops
• Biological cycles, including a reduction in the fertilisation of food crops
• Energy cost increases
• Insurance cost increases and/or difficulty in securing insurance cover
• Climate refugees – people relocating due to climate impacts in their home countries.

Council action

Climate Action Plan

Our Climate Action Plan is a key to our climate change response. Itaims to enhanceand expand action in response to the urgency and magnitude of the current climate situation.

Climate Action Plan 2023–2028.pdf(PDF, 8MB)

Climate Change Pledge

Council has endorsed the Climate Change Pledge via the Letter to the Minister for Energy Environment and Climate Change.

Renewable energy

Council is investing in renewable energy, installing solar PV systems and solar hot water systems on Council buildings. These include leisure centres, pre-schools and community centres.

To supplement these renewable energy sources, Council uses 100 per cent GreenPower electricity for all Council buildings and street-lighting. GreenPower is a government accredited program for purchasing greenhouse neutral electricity from renewable sources. Find out more on the GreenPower website.

Greenhouse Action

Council is a member of the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA), a network of local councils to share information, coordinate emission reduction and adaptation activities and cooperate on research and development of innovative projects. Eight other local Councils are also members of NAGA: the Cities of Banyule, Darebin, Manningham, Melbourne, Moreland, Whittlesea and Yarra, and Nillumbik Shire Council.

What can we do?

The things we eat, buy and dispose of as waste can also result in greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Here are some ways to reduce your impact:

• Eat less red meat and dairy foods (cows and sheep produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas)
• Choose local and less-processed foods
• Buy durable products that will last
• Compost or worm farm your food scraps or put them in your food and garden bin (green bin)
• Reduce food waste by planning meals and buying only what you need.
• Buy appliances with the highest star ratings – they will be cheaper and more efficient to run
• Upgrade your home's gas appliances to electric
• Install rooftop solar to start generating your own clean energy
• Ask your electricity provider about switching to GreenPower
• Draught proof your doors and windows and check your insulation.

Find out more ways to reduce your consumption and correctly dispose of your waste here.

Find out how the Hume Home Energy Upgrades program can help you make your home more energy-efficient here.