The Natural Environment & Climate Change

Welcome to the Shire of West Arthur Climate Change Information Hub!

At the Shire of West Arthur, we recognise the importance of addressing climate change and its impact on our community, environment, and future. We are committed to providing valuable resources and support to residents, businesses, and ratepayers to help implement local initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient West Arthur.

Our commitment to climate change action

The Shire of West Arthur is dedicated to promoting sustainability, environmental stewardship, and community resilience. We will work towards on climate change adaptation and mitigation by:

Providing accurate and reliable information: Our goal is to empower individuals, businesses, and ratepayers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and take meaningful action.
Supporting local initiatives: We offer guidance, and partnerships to support local initiatives focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable practices. Subject to good planning and design we will support renewable energy projects within the Shire to make West Arthur a leader in renewable energy production to alleviate the need for use of fossil fuels as much as practical. We believe that by working together, we can achieve greater impact and create positive change.
Environment Action Plan: Aligning with the Shire's Strategic Community Plan West Arthur - Towards 2031, the Shire is developing an Environmental Action Plan to help the Shire of West Arthur and its community adapt to the effects of Climate Change and to maximise our collective resilience to the resultant impacts.

Why Climate Change Information Matters

Climate change is a global challenge that requires local action. By understanding the causes, effects, and potential solutions to climate change, we can make informed decisions and take proactive steps to reduce our carbon footprint, conserve resources, and create a better future for generations to come.

Why Should I consider Climate Change Risks to my Household

Weather and extreme events already affect households. Many Western Australian households have been disrupted by extreme weather. Recent events include Cyclone Isla (2023), flooding throughout the top end of the state in 2023, recent drought in other parts and extreme heatwaves and bushfires in 2022. These extreme events can cause significant damage to property and infrastructure, impacting local communities and many businesses and industries. Recovery of a household from a disaster is a complex process and dependent on many factors such as the household’s socioeconomic circumstance before and after the disaster, governmental and nongovernmental aid structures, the physical condition of the neighbourhood around the household, and the household’s own actions. Historically, recovery of households after disasters has been enhanced through the awareness of risks and being prepared for them well in advance. Being resilient helped residents in many ways such as reduction in insurance premiums and damage costs, increased thermal comfort within the house leading to improved living conditions, etc.

Aside from major natural disasters, many households have experienced the more subtle effects of weather on their lifestyle, including those from storms and heatwaves. This suggests that some households are not even well adapted to the current climate. Building resilience now will help households to reduce future damage costs, reduce negative impacts on their health, wellbeing and livelihood and maximise any opportunities arising from future weather and climate changes.

What is the benefit for me and my Household?

it is important to understand how extreme weather and climate change impacts could affect you. Planning ahead rather than responding reactively will help you in the following ways:

Save money - If you are a homeowner, understanding future risks to your assets will help you take necessary steps to minimise or alleviate future damage costs to your property. If you are developing a new home, understanding the risks ahead will help you choose an appropriate design. If you are planning to purchase a home, understanding the climate-related risks of your future property or the area where you are planning to buy, will help you make an informed investment decision. If you are renting, you can determine approaches to reduce possible impacts on your belongings and assets. Whatever the case, understanding future climatic risks of the place where you live, rent or invest will allow you to manage or lower costs in the long-term. It can also potentially help reduce insurance costs and lending costs in future.
Be healthier - Understanding the future climatic risks to your household, and preparing for them, will give you the best chance to be safe during rapid-onset natural disasters such as cyclones, bushfires, floods, etc. Additionally, a better understanding of slow-onset hazards (such as increased exposure to extreme heat) can help you improve the liveability of your house (e.g. improved ventilation or air conditioning to protect you during heatwaves).

Climate change related risks to Households

Risks to the structure and contents of your house:

Location and physical condition of the house is a critical element of household climate resilience. A resilient house should be able to withstand increased extreme events and provide safety to its residents.
Extreme events can damage the internal and/or external structure of the building and reduce asset values.
Extreme events such as floods, bushfires, etc. can also damage to household contents.
Effects vary with location, different building types, construction and use.
Higher potential of risks can increase insurance premiums, especially in flood prone areas.

Risks to the livelihoods of residents:

Climate change impacts span across multiple sectors and can affect businesses and the broader economy, which in turn can damage livelihoods.
Extreme events will have impacts on the livelihoods as they impact agriculture, tourism, small businesses, etc.
Frequent extreme events can limit diversification of economic activities which, when combined with damage to infrastructure and other types of physical capital, can affect the wider community.
Increased expenses related to retrofitting and climate proofing can put added financial pressure on vulnerable households.

For more information on how to assist your household in saving money please visit Rewiring Australia

Informative Websites for Action

To assist you with implementing local climate change initiatives, we have compiled a list of informative websites that offer valuable resources and practical guidance:

	CSIRO, the Department of the Environment and Energy and the Bureau of Meteorology developed this information portal, which provides the following information: underpinning science of climate change, modelling and Australia’s projected climate data; the possible regional impacts on natural resources and management responses; news and updates on datasets; a summary of climate change projections for Australian regions; and technical and regional reports and publications.
	The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) works to support decision makers throughout Australia as they prepare for and manage the risks of climate change and sea-level rise.
	AdaptNRM is a national initiative that aims to support National Resource Management (NRM) groups in updating their NRM plans to include climate adaptation planning. It is part of Stream 2 of the NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund administered by the Department of Environment. CSIRO and NCCARF are providing NRM groups with materials and data products about key individual topics that are regionally and nationally relevant.
	The Department of Water and Environment Regulation provides information such as: climate change in Western Australia; climate change challenges in Western Australia; climate change adaptation; publications and resources; low emission industry and technology in Western Australia; and Low Emissions Energy Development (LEED) Fund projects.
	The Clean Energy Regulator administers the Emissions Reduction Fund, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme and the Renewable Energy Target. These schemes aim to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of clean energy
	A user-friendly platform that helps households and businesses track and reduce their carbon footprint while saving money through energy and water efficiency.
	A comprehensive educational resource hub offering lesson plans, activities, and resources to educate and empower students, teachers, and parents about climate change and sustainability.
	An online publication that provides up-to-date news, analysis, and insights on renewable energy, clean technologies, and climate policy.
	A nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting carbon offsets and biodiversity conservation. Their website offers information on carbon offset projects and how individuals and businesses can support them.
	Australia's leading independent climate change organization, providing evidence-based information and expert commentary on climate science, impacts, and solutions.

Remember, taking action on climate change starts with each one of us. Whether you're a resident, business owner, or ratepayer, your efforts can contribute to a more sustainable future for Narrogin.

Explore our website to access a wealth of climate change information, resources, and opportunities to get involved. Together, let's build a resilient and sustainable West Arthur for generations to come.

Join us in making a positive impact today!