There is no doubt that there are challenges ahead in order for Australia and the world to meet net zero emissions and keep the world to a 1.5 degree rise in the average global temperature compared to pre-indistrial levels.
But as one young person recently said to me, ‘What is the downside? You look after the environment, you invest in renewable energy, it is more efficient, you invest in new industries, support jobs, and revitalise our economy.’
The Nature Conservation Council (NCC) has just launched a new toolkit that supports communities to drive a nature-positive transition to renewable energy in NSW. While its primary focus is on strengthening NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), it puts forward key recommendations on how communities, large and small, can work towards reducing emissions and bringing opportunities to regions and communities.
‘To achieve the best outcomes for nature and communities, the NSW government needs to implement stronger mechanisms in the planning system and stronger nature laws,’ states the joint policy recommendations supported by 17 NSW organisations, including the National Parks Association of NSW.
‘Establishing policies that ensure the renewables rollout is good for the environment and good for communities will increase the social licence of renewable development.’
The Nature and Renewables Toolkit launched this week suggests ‘no-go zones to protect high value and critical habitat as well as wildlife and climate corridors linked to national parks or areas of high biodiversity value’ as well as the need to recognise ‘cumulative environmental impacts and emerging environmental risks’.
Key recommendations include that environmental data be shared between developers and local environment groups, and that regional communities ʻgrow your ownʼ workforce.
‘Above all else, across the case study regions, communities saw the transition as an opportunity to build a lasting legacy for future generations,’ the policy announcement stated.
‘Regional communities saw the economic injection from the pipeline of renewables projects as an opportunity to enhance community liveability, expand local workforce capacity and augment community services.
‘The transition to net zero emissions has the potential to provide a substantial economic injection into many regional communities.’
Australia is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and we have seen locally, and across the country, the increasing impacts of floods, fires, and cyclones as communities are hit repeatedly, with less time to recover between incidents.
But we are also in a strong position to leverage renewable energy and become a world leader due to our significant resources in solar, wind and minerals as well as reliable infrastructure and a stable government.
The question is do we, and our governments, have the drive to take advantage of the opportunities?
Aslan Shand, editor
News tips are welcome: [email protected]
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
