The greenhouse effect is a natural process, which keeps the earth at a temperature range suitable for the organisms inhabiting it. The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect however is the result of human induced increases in greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 produced from burning fossil fuels. The effect of having an increased level of greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere is leading to higher global temperature averages with scientific models predicting further increases if nothing is done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Cities for Climate Protection
Strathfield Council with assistance from the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) has made a strong commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, recently completing via the “Cities for Climate Protection” CCP program. CCP is a 5 milestone process designed to reduce Council and Communities production of Greenhouse Gases.
- Milestone 1: Preparation of an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions for both corporate and community activities for a baseline year, and forecast of growth in emissions to the Year 2010 adopting a 'business as usual' scenario.
- Milestone 2: Setting of an emissions reduction goal.
- Milestone 3: Preparation and adoption of a Local Greenhouse Action Plan Documenting measures to be undertaken to achieve the reduction goal.
- Milestone 4: Implementation of the Local Greenhouse Action Plan
- Milestone 5: Monitoring and reporting on the implementation, and review of the Local Greenhouse Action Plan
Council has recently completed Milestone 5 of the CCP program. A key finding from this process was the discovery that Council had successfully reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 12% or 671 tonnes carbon dioxide during the 2008 financial year.
