Climate change advisory groups

The Climate Change Community and Environment Advisory Group is complementary to the mining and agriculture advisory groups and is not intended to replace the role of community or environment representatives on these groups. The Advisory Group will provide advice to the EPA on its approaches and actions relevant to climate change, including:

• advising the EPA on matters relevant to the Action Plan; with the overarching objective of supporting industry and other sectors of the NSW economy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare and respond effectively to climate risks
• sharing information on innovative practices, research and development, education, behavioural change and risks and opportunities
• ways to reduce or avoid adverse consequences within and between business and industry sectors, or communities, as a result of actions being proposed or implemented.

 The key actions of the group include but are not limited to:

• Information sharing:
  • sharing innovation and best practice for reducing emissions or adaptation.

• Education and awareness: 

  • assisting the EPA to build its awareness,

  • building capabilities and awareness in the advisory group,

  • building understanding in the community,

  • sharing information on education and behavioural change measures to promote climate action.

• Provide feedback on documents circulated to the advisory group that will be used to inform potential EPA regulatory strategies and progress of the Action Plan.

Membership

The group will be made up of the following roles.

Chair	Environment Protection Authority. EPA will also provide secretariat services for all meetings
Aboriginal knowledge holder	Have Aboriginal culture and science knowledge that is representative of the wider Aboriginal people in NSW.
Two community representatives	Representatives from organisations that have statewide community knowledge and have relevant understanding and experience in matters relevant to climate change to advise on community interests on climate change approaches and actions.
Four environment representatives	Representatives from organisations with environmental interests and have a relevant understanding and experience in matters relevant to climate change, preferably across multiple industry sectors.
Climate change knowledge scientist or expert	Climate change scientist or expert with experience in climate science, net zero innovations and climate change adaptation across multiple sectors.
NSW Government observers	No formal role.  May provide information, analysis, advice on request, via the chair.

Meeting frequency

There will be a minimum of two meetings per year.

Remuneration

Paid allowance will be considered for members who do not receive a salary or payment from the non-industry body or non-government organization that they represent. 

Member term

Up to 2 years, with the potential for reappointment. 

At the introductory meeting of the Climate Change Mining Advisory Group the EPA’s CEO, Tony Chappel welcomed the group members and outlined the EPA’s vision for the group.

The EPA provided an overview of the EPA Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, as well as the EPA’s recent climate change survey and preliminary findings from the mining sector.

The EPA outlined that preliminary results from its recent climate change survey show there is significant scope to work with our licensees to improve their management of climate change matters. The EPA is still reviewing results and will be releasing these early next year.

Executive Director Strategy and Policy, Nancy Chang said the EPA is looking forward to collaborating and sharing knowledge with the members to get the settings right as the EPA implements its climate change action plan.

“We’ll be seeking advice from the group members as we develop a practical policy for reducing, monitoring and reporting on greenhouse gas emissions.

“The EPA is working closely with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions and this group will form an important part of the conversation, providing on-ground advice and insights.”

The next group meeting is intended for February 2024.

At the meeting of the Climate Change Agriculture Advisory Group the EPA’s Executive Director, Strategy and Policy, Nancy Chang welcomed the group members.

The Co-Chairs, Nancy Chang (EPA) and Kate Lorimer-Ward (DPI) provided an update on both the EPA Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, and the NSW Government’s Climate Change approach.

The EPA outlined the recent climate change survey and results specific to the agricultural sector. Members were taken through a preview version of the online survey dashboard which explains the results of the survey and will be available on the EPA’s website early this year.

A discussion was had with Members regarding a proposed work plan for the group, and what needs to be included in future meetings. A work plan for the group will be drafted and circulated to members for comment.

Executive Director Strategy and Policy, Nancy Chang noted the EPA is looking forward to further collaboration and knowledge sharing with the Members as the EPA implements its climate change action plan.

The next group meeting is intended for June 2024.

At the introductory meeting of the Climate Change Agriculture Advisory Group the EPA’s CEO, Tony Chappel welcomed the group members and outlined the EPA’s vision, purpose and function for the group.

The EPA provided an overview of the EPA Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, which is structured around 3 pillars: inform & plan, mitigate, and adapt.

The EPA outlined preliminary findings from the agriculture sector from its recent climate change survey. This shows there is significant scope to work with our licensees across the agricultural sector to improve their management of climate change matters. The EPA noted it is still reviewing results and will present to the group further on this and intends to release results on its website early next year.

The Group will be Co-Chaired by the EPA, Executive Director Strategy and Policy Nancy Chang and NSW Department of Primary Industries, Deputy Director General, Kate Lorimer-Ward. This provides a joined-up voice into and across government.

EPA Executive Director Strategy and Policy Nancy Chang said the agricultural sector is very diverse and working with the members of this group will provide important insights.

“At the meeting members discussed the methods for adaption, noting that emissions, risks and impacts will be different across the sectors within agriculture. This included the need to understand where emissions are coming from and where they can be reduced.

“The meeting agreed that the inform and plan stage was a good place to start on the action plan, to gather information and evidence to inform the path forward.

“The group discussed the need to consider influences outside the agricultural sector, including at the state and federal level and across other industries.

“The group also discussed the scale of the agricultural sector and how agriculture businesses and  the broader community could be supported and brought on the journey to engage in the material to reduce climate risks, without undue burden.”

The next meeting is intended to be in February 2024.