IPPG assessed how a large metropolitan council could make its climate change work more equitable and inclusive and identified which residents were likely to be disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change in the local government area (LGA). For this work, we engaged subject matter experts from the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures to provide additional technical advice.

The challenge 

Our client, a large metropolitan council, wanted to increase its understanding of who in its LGA would be most affected by the impacts of climate change, and what the priority opportunities were for delivering work to help those residents in future.

What we did 

The initial stage of the project involved an in-depth evidence review of the organisation’s existing environmental strategies, climate action priorities and work to date – and a literature and data review to establish who was most at risk of disproportionate impacts from climate change in the LGA.

IPPG then conducted in-depth interviews with representatives from key internal business units within the organisation, and with external organisations working with the resident groups identified as already experiencing disproportionate impacts from climate change in the LGA. The interviews focused on where there were opportunities to develop further supports for these residents.  

In the final stage of the project, IPPG designed a user-friendly Equity Decision Support Tool to support council staff in identifying and assessing whether future climate projects would adequately benefit and include the resident groups identified. IPPG also worked with ISF to develop a suite of indicators for the organisation to track progress in delivering equitable and inclusive climate action.

Outcome 

At the conclusion of the project, IPPG provided an engaging final report that identified 17 high-impact opportunities for the organisation to make its current climate action work more inclusive and equitable for residents most likely to experience disproportionate impacts from climate change in the LGA.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.