Climate and sustainability

Sustainability is all about balancing environmental, economic and social impacts to satisfy the needs of the present, without affecting future generations’ ability to meet their needs.

Research tells us that pollution from fossil fuels is a major contributor to more frequent extreme weather events, hot days, annual rainfall increases and sea level rise. These changes will affect our demand for energy for heating and cooling, the cost of electricity and the resilience of the places where we live, work and play.

Reducing our pollution and increasing sustainable behaviours in our homes and workplaces, such as clean and efficient energy consumption, avoiding waste and choosing local and sustainable materials and businesses can help reduce the impacts of climate change and protect the world class natural environment of the Tweed.

On 19 September 2019, Tweed Shire Council declared that we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government, including local councils. We acknowledge that our global climate is changing, and that in the Tweed, this will impact Council operations, our community, the economy and our environment.

Council’s climate and sustainability programs aim to support the need for local solutions to meet the multi-faceted challenges of environmental protection, social equity and economic resilience.