Supporting climate action at the local level
Tweed Shire Council partnered with Griffith University on a community-led project for climate action.
The project aimed to support the Tweed community:
- be prepared for local climate risks and impacts eg. floods and bushfires
- build the capacity to act on climate-related events
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions
"With the 2020s hailed as the ‘Critical Decade’ for climate action to keep global warming below a dangerous level of 1.5 degrees, many communities are looking for ways to ramp up their climate action at the local level – both in preparing for impacts and reducing their emissions".
"This partnership with Tweed Shire Council is important as some of our researchers are local Tweed residents. After experiencing the floods firsthand, we wanted to interact with our community to support TSC in co-creating innovative local climate action strategies."
Dr Melissa Jackson, Interdisciplinary Research Fellow, Griffith Climate Action Beacon
Release of Final Report
In July 2023 the final Tweed Climate Ready Project Final Report was presented to the Tweed Shire Council by the Griffith University, Climate Action Beacon.
The Report contains key findings concerning:
- Attitudes and experiences with climate change
- Community climate action
- Tweed comparison with the National Climate Action Survey
- Barriers to climate action
- Enablers of climate action
The Report also contains 10 Recommendations:
- Incorporate community-based climate action in climate action responses
- Prioritise climate action at the intersection of impact and interest (transport and clean, efficient energy)
- Establish a Community Climate Action Reference Group
- Establish a Community Sustainability/Climate Action Hub
- Establish a Program of Community Climate Champions
- Initiate a Climate Communication and Education Series
- Progress baseline understanding through local risk and vulnerability assessments across key infrastructure
- Update emergency governance procedures
- Seek sustainable funding for climate action in the Tweed
- Continue place-based projects and research
Project stages
The project team listened and talked to residents of the Tweed Shire and the following shaped the Final Report:
Community events
The project was launched at the Tweed Eco Festival on 13 November 2022. Presentations and practical workshops were held to help people prepare for local climate impacts and reduce their environmental footprint.
Survey
Tweed residents told the project team about their climate readiness and views on climate change via a Survey. The Survey closed 30 January 2023.
Community Conversations
A series of community conversations was undertaken in early 2023.
Co-Design Climate Action
The project team coordinated the co-design of local community-led climate action and disaster preparedness strategies.
Supplementary Report - Community Climate Action Workshops
During May 2023, community climate action workshops were run by Griffith University at Tweed Heads, Uki, Murwillumbah and Cabarita. This document collates the outputs produced by participants during the workshops.
Snapshot - Community Survey
Between November 2022 and January 2023, Griffith University surveyed residents of the Tweed Shire to understand perceptions and experiences with climate action, including greenhouse gas emissions and preparedness and adaptation strategies for climate events such as floods and bushfires.
Technical Report - Community Climate Action Readiness
In April 2023, Griffith University presented the Tweed Shire Council with a detailed Technical Report about the Tweed Shire Community Climate Action Survey.
Report - Tweed Eco Festival 2022
The project and survey was launched at the Tweed Eco Festival on 13 November 2022, Knox Park, Murwillumbuh. The event was to help the community learn how to build resilience to natural hazards and reduce their environmental footprint. It was the first step in the research project Griffith University is undertaking to learn about Tweed Shire residents’ current climate resilience and viewpoints and to recruit attendees to participate in a follow-up survey, interview, and co-design session.
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