‘Climate dashboard’ to map progress on South Coast Alliance’s net zero emissions goal

An alliance of Great Southern councils will track how they are tackling climate change using a “climate dashboard” as they work towards a target of net zero emissions by 2050.

The South Coast Alliance — a collaboration between the City of Albany and the shires of Denmark, Plantagenet and Jerramungup — secured a $218,000 Lotterywest grant last Wednesday to develop the project.

The “climate dashboard” will be an online platform containing updates on climate change actions and related data from across the four local governments.

It will give the community, industry and local governments a single point of access to local climate change information.

The aim of the platform is to boost awareness of climate change and local mitigation and adaptation efforts as the SCA works towards its goal of net zero emissions across the lower Great Southern by 2050.

The SCA’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050 is in line with the State Government’s climate policy launched in November 2020.

Information to be featured on the website includes overall community emissions, biodiversity impacts, council actions to reduce emissions, community actions to reduce emissions and climate adaptation measures such as fire management.

Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the “climate dashboard” would be an important tool to help community members understand climate impacts and mitigation activities.

Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens said it would foster a sense of unity on climate change.

“The project will encourage and connect our community to sustainable action, improve their sense of connection and create a shared sense of purpose that supports the view that — when it comes to climate change — we are all in this together,” she said.

The SCA was named one of WA’s first regional climate alliances, alongside the Goldfields Voluntary Regional Organisation of Councils, in July 2021.