Climate change

What is climate change?

Climate change is the long-term change in the earth's climate. Scientists agree that the changes in our climate are caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, including burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas, waste decomposition, clearing vegetation from land and transport.    

The State of Victoria has seen its climate warm by just over 1 degree in the past 100 years.

Addressing climate change

 There are two parts to addressing climate change, mitigation and adaptation: 

  • Mitigation - avoiding and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere  
  • Adaptation - changes the City and the community can make to reduce the risks and realise the benefits from addressing climate change.   

The City's current mitigation actions include: 

  • Planning - Preparation of a Zero Emissions Plan for Council Operations
  • Renewable energy - Procurement of 100% of the organisation’s electricity from renewable sources through the Victorian Energy Collaboration.
  • Street lights - Changing over the City’s street lights to energy efficient LEDs 
  • Electric vehicles - Transitioning the City’s fleet to electric vehicles, starting with the City’s passenger fleet
  • Electric vehicle charging stations - Installing electric vehicle charging stations at key facilities and car parks including outside the Bendigo Art Gallery, the Edward Street Carpark and at the Hargreaves Street Carpark
  • Getting off gas - Electrifying Council facilities by replacing gas hot water and heating systems with electric alternatives
  • Solar panels - Installing solar panels on Council facilities
  • Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration - Working with other stakeholders to reduce emissions across the City through the Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration

The City's current adaptation actions include: 

  • Risk assessment - Completion of a Climate Risk Assessment for Council Operations
  • Greening Greater Bendigo - Implementation of Council’s urban tree planting program, Greening Greater Bendigo  
  • Emergency management - Implementation of the Integrated Municipal Emergency Management Plan and installation of off-grid infrastructure at key emergency management relief and recovery centres
  • Flood management - Development and implementation of flood management plans