NEW GRANTS FOR LOCAL GREENHOUSE ACTION

22/07/2005 - Communities around Australia will benefit from new Australian Government grants to local governments for projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, said the grants from the Local Greenhouse Action programme would encourage local governments to run greenhouse gas abatement projects with their community and with other local governments in their region.
“The $200,000 in new grants will allow regional groupings of three or more local governments to join forces to undertake practical community greenhouse projects,” Senator Campbell said.
“Groups of local governments can work with local households, businesses, schools or community groups on greenhouse abatement initiatives.
“There are already good examples of local government working with the community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through home energy audits and retrofits, community workshops, projects with local schools, transport initiatives and energy efficient retrofits of communities facilities such as child care centres, aquatic centres and libraries.
“These new grants will encourage groups of councils to work together to increase the size and scope of these projects.”
A further $200,000 in funding will help local governments in the Cities for Climate Protection™ Australia programme (CCP) to prepare and review local greenhouse gas inventories in order to meet formal programme milestones.
“CCP Australia is the world’s largest and most successful local government greenhouse programme.
“The success of CCP Australia would not be possible without the support of the Australian Government and local government participants,” Senator Campbell said.
CCP is an international programme delivered in Australia in partnership with the Australian Greenhouse Office, in the Department of the Environment and Heritage, and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). CCP encourages and supports local governments initiate greenhouse gas abatement action within their own operations and communities.
Details of the Local Greenhouse Action funding is attached.