Update by: Maria Anselmo, Regional Climate Resilience Coordinator
Representing the Far North Queensland region, the Australia Climate Service invited FNQROC on Wednesday 6 November 2024, to participate in a two-day National Climate Risk Assessment Second Pass workshop. Set to explore Australia's climate impacts, risks, and future adaptation, over two days, 100 participants from various sectors, including economy, health, communities, and government, worked together to explore the evidence, provide feedback, and consider national key messages.
Our vision for a healthy, safe, sustainable, and prosperous future led us to explore risks and impacts across four key themes. We have been actively contributing to the National Climate Risk Assessment, from early online workshops to the recent one in Adelaide. It was a distinct honour to be invited to represent the region's unique position and needs in the face of climate-driven hazards. These hazards, including sea-level rise, heatwaves, bushfires, and heavy rain and wind, pose significant risks that we are committed to addressing.
The final Climate Resilience Technical Committee meeting for 2024 was a significant event. It took place in Tablelands Regional Council on Friday 18 October 2024, and was attended by LGAQ representatives and the new Program Manager for the resurrection of the Queensland Climate Resilience Council Program. With funding from the State Government to support Southeast Queensland and Far North Queensland established Climate Alliance to implement actions, we are eagerly anticipating the funding opportunities that will come our way in 2025.
In a first for the Climate Resilience Technical Committee, we held a webinar on Friday 22 November 2024, exploring the role of Local Councils in facilitating community transition towards electric vehicles. Over twenty-two Council officers from over six Councils joined online to learn about current EVs registered on our roads, the number of electric vehicle charging stations, and gaps in the network to support top-up and long-distance travel. Representatives from Ergon Energy joined and shared information on their connection process and strategic plan for facilitating community transition.
As we wrap up the year, we are working closely with regional Natural Resource Management organisations to submit funding for Drought Resilience Projects in the Gulf Hinterland and Wet Tropics Region.
Thank you to everyone in the Climate Resilience Technical Committee for their ongoing commitment to achieving a low-carbon and resilient region.