Overview
The VLGA promotes best-practice in environmental sustainability by linking community groups to local government. The Association plays a strong role in capacity-building, by facilitating and fostering effective partnerships between grass roots organisations and government representatives.
Building Communities: A Leadership Journey
In partnership with Dattner Grant,
Sustainability Victoria, and Hobsons Bay City Council, the VLGA ran a highly successful community leadership program entitled Building Communities: A Leadership Journey. Implemented over one year from April 2007 to May 2008, the program drew on leadership best-practices to test the idea that through partnership, local government can assist members of the community to develop as strong leaders to facilitate change for a sustainable future. The program provided innovative opportunities for transformative, rather than instructional, learning. To read more about the program, see:
Strategic Plan
The VLGA's work on climate change is informed by the
Strategic Plan section B.2: Planning and Place, which states the objective to strengthen the capacities of communities to plan for sustainable futures.
VLGA Approach
The VLGA seeks to complement the existing scientific discourse on climate change by approaching the issue from a social justice perspective. In fact, it is the view of the VLGA that no approach to dealing effectively with climate change is complete unless the impact of the phenomenon on people’s everyday lives is taken into account. The VLGA assists local governments to protect social equity issues when developing plans to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The social impacts of climate change are many and varied, and generally result in the exacerbation of existing disadvantage. These include:
- Increased cost of healthcare, food, energy, water, housing, transport, insurance, and council rates, coupled with decreased property values
- Deterioration of health (particularly mental health), general anxiety, long term recovery after fires
- Increased food security issues, including low production of, and inequitable access to, quality fresh food. Farmers and the agricultural industry are particularly vulnerable
- Industry loss and unemployment, as well as increased need for new training and skills
In September 2009, the VLGA submitted a written response to the Victorian Climate Change Green Paper that advocated for more systematic and clear recognition of the social equity impacts of climate change.
For more information see the
National Local Government Climate Change Discussion Paper 2009
Current Activity
Liveable and Just Project
The
Liveable and Just project investigates the capacity of local governments to deal with climate change in ways that are healthy, sustainable, and just. The project goes beyond the mere identification of the social impacts of climate change by facilitating direct engagement between local governments and members their communities. Through Liveable and Just, the VLGA is working towards long-term solutions based to enhance the resilience and improve the capacity of local communities to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The Climate Change Working Group
The VLGA’s
Climate Change Working Group
provides expert advice on actions to build the capacity of local
governments to respond effectively to climate change. This includes
facilitating better connected communities, and advocating strongly for
the protection of social equity issues amidst the rising influence and
impact of climate change on people’s everyday lives.
Contact
Policy & Project Officer
Dr Rebecca Barlow
T:
+61 3 9349 7941
E:
Send Email