Local council in Australia supports sea level rise policy statement

Merimbula News Weekly (Australia): Bega Valley Shire Council has resolved to support the draft [New South Wales] Sea Level Rise Policy statement released by the Government for comment. The draft statement acknowledges that sea level rise associated with climate change will have significant medium to long-term social, economic and environmental impacts.

In a report to councillors last week, council’s group manager of planning and environment, Andrew Woodley said council did not currently have a policy regarding climate change or sea level rise. “The adoption of a NSW SLR Policy statement will provide recognition of the potential impacts of this phenomenon and a benchmark for consistency among councils in planning to manage and adapt to medium and long term impacts,” he said.

“However, policy statements will emerge once council considers climate change strategies later in the year. “ He said a number of coastal local government authorities recently had adopted SLR benchmarks and policies. “Without State leadership in regard SLR associated with climate change, a scenario of 30 coastal LGAs in NSW adopting separate SLR policies could occur,” he said….

A panorama of the Bega Valley in New South Wales, Australia, shot by Winston M. Yang, Wikimedia Commons, nder the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2