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Climate Emergency Action Plan2020 – 2025July 2020

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Contents

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia

and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Climate Emergency Declaration 4

Background 4

Declaration 4

About this Plan 5

Strategic Plan 6

3 Pillars of our Climate Emergency Action Plan 7

Goal 1. Create, demonstrate and share clear transition pathways to a zero carbon society 7

Goal 2. Increase energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy in Australia. 9

Goal 3. A sustainable organisation. 12

Annual Evaluation Checklist 14

About Australian Energy Foundation 15

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Climate Emergency Declaration

1 IPCC (2018), ‘Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5 °C’, https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/.

BackgroundAustralian Energy Foundation (AEF) was established in 2000 to tackle climate change at a local level. In the twenty years we have been operating, the lack of action on climate change has led to a drastic rise in carbon emissions globally. We are now feeling the real and devastating impacts of climate change on communities here and overseas.

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052, if human activity continues to increase at the current rate1. A global transformation is required to limit warming to 1.5°C, including achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

“Ambitious mitigation actions are indispensable to

limit warming to 1.5°C while achieving sustainable

development and poverty eradication.” IPCC (2018)

We are undoubtedly facing a climate emergency. While climate change is our greatest threat, it is also our biggest opportunity.

At AEF we have a vision of an equitable zero carbon society, a society where people have access to the energy they need to:

» Be healthy

» Have meaningful work

» Maintain financial stability

» Connect with their community

» Prosper through continuous learning

» Live in a thriving natural environment.

Disadvantaged and vulnerable populations are at disproportionate risk to both climate change impacts and being left behind in the energy transition. Working together to meet the threat of climate change, with equity and engagement as our focus, we can create an equitable zero carbon future for all.

DeclarationIn November 2019, AEF joined over 70 local governments across Australia, 250 non-government organisations and 11,000 scientists in declaring a climate emergency.

By declaring a climate emergency, AEF acknowledges:

» Catastrophic changes to climate have been caused by human activity

» We will mobilise and take action at scale and speed to restore a safe climate

» To restore a safe climate, we need to transition to net zero emissions rapidly

» We don’t accept business as usual

» We know the technical solutions and we now need the political action and rapid implementation of those solutions

About this PlanThe development of this Climate Emergency Action Plan is a vital step for a meaningful climate emergency declaration. The Plan has been developed in direct reference to AEF’s Strategic Plan. Our Strategic Goals provide the overlying structure for this document.

We have ensured that the Plan has been developed in the spirit of collaboration, innovation and teamwork by involving all AEF staff, members and the AEF Board in the creation of the document. A workshop with our dedicated Sustainability Committee provided initial project input, which was then collated into a First Draft by the Project Team.

All AEF staff and AEF members were asked to provide feedback on all aspects of the First Draft. Out of all respondents, 85% answered ‘Support all of the actions’, and 15% answered ‘Support some of the actions but have comments’. These comments were incorporated into a Second Draft for AEF Board Approval. We thank our community for their important contributions to this document.

It is important to AEF that we remain accountable to the commitments outlined in the Plan. Thus, we will ensure the Plan is delivered by embedding it into existing operations and policies. A separate Implementation Plan will be developed in FY 2020/21 Q1. This will utilise SMART goals to ensure the actions from this document are implemented. The actions will be monitored quarterly and evaluated annually by the AEF Sustainability Committee, and is due to be refreshed by July 2025 at the latest.

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An equitable zero carbon society.

To accelerate the energy transition by empowering communities to take action.

Innovation Honesty Respect Resilience Team work

Vision Our Role Values

Strategic Plan

Goal 1We create, demonstrate and share clear transition pathways to a zero carbon society.

Objectives1. Explore new ways of doing things to demonstrate what is possible for

homes, businesses and communities in the energy transition.

2. Partner with local governments and communities to develop and accelerate the pathway to a zero carbon society.

3. Demonstrate national and international leadership on how to transition to a zero carbon society.

Goal 2We increase energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy in Australia.

Goal 3We are a sustainable organisation.

Objectives4. Drive large scale uptake of energy efficiency and investment in

renewable energy.

5. Deliver initiatives to support the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency amongst Australian businesses, schools and community organisations.

6. Provide information, advice, products and services to increase energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy, creating livable healthy homes.

7. Offer grass roots community groups the support they need to drive local investment in renewable energy.

Objectives8. Engage a highly capable, accountable, flexible, diverse, and proud

team, who value everyone’s wellbeing.

9. Make sound strategic financial decisions to progress our vision.

10. Implement best practice environmental management across our operations.

1. Impact

2. Reputation performance

3. People performance

Key Performance Indicators

4. Financial performance

5. Achieve and maintain carbon neutral certification

6. Demonstrate broader impact

3 Pillars of our Climate Emergency Action PlanGoal 1. Create, demonstrate and share clear transition pathways to a zero carbon societyAustralian Energy Foundation is leading the way to an equitable zero carbon society. We have grown since 2000 to be a national organisation that works in partnership with government, industry, business and community to have a positive impact across Australia. We demonstrate the pathways to a zero carbon society by incubating innovative ideas, testing new solutions and sharing our learnings so that all society benefits.

To meet our necessary global emissions reduction targets, we believe that all levels of government, industry, business and community require a Climate Emergency Action Plan. Limiting warming to 1.5°C implies reaching net zero emissions globally around 2050. AEF can support communities, companies, industries, governments and schools with achieving these targets, through assisting with any or all aspects of their Climate Emergency Action Plans (see next page).

Goal 1 - Action Plan1A. Engage, empower and mobilise all levels of government, industry, business and community on their Climate Emergency Action Plans.

» Deliver information sessions and Climate Emergency Action Plan services, with a target of 5 plans assisted per annum, or services reaching 500,000 community members per annum.

» Offer a free preliminary Climate Emergency Action Plan review to 1 community group per annum.

1B. Advocate and support widespread climate emergency declarations.

» Strongly encourage and support AEF partners to declare a climate emergency.

» Build climate emergency declarations into our stakeholder engagement processes.

» Promote a condition of partnership with AEF that companies must not be engaging in new fossil fuel investments.

1C. Continue to enable local and grassroots-based community action groups and the next generation of climate leaders.

» Use our platform to advocate for these groups.

1D. Incubate innovative ideas, test new solutions, and share our learnings. Consider the advice, feedback and lessons learned from the sustainability community, energy sector, and all of our stakeholders.

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Design

» Scope and Background

» Establishing Baseline (Activity/GHG)

» Feasibility Study

» Risks and Opportunities

» Options Analysis

» Targets

» Methodology and Framework

» Community Engagement

Independent Review

» Market Comparison

» Options Analysis

» AEF Endorsement

Deliver

» Program Management

» Pilots and Trials

» Campaigns

» Community Engagement

» Energy Advice Centre

» Information Sessions

» Product Referrals - Renewable Energy and Energy Efficieny

If you already have a Climate Emergency Action Plan:

Monitor & Evaluate

» Tracking of Targets

» Community Engagement

» Options Analysis

Refresh

» Market Comparison

» 2020 – 2025 Update

AEF’s Climate Emergency Action Plan offering, available to government, industry, business and community

Goal 2. Increase energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy in Australia.

The future of energy will look radically different to energy today. Generated differently, distributed and used differently, bought and sold differently. This means significant change for all parts of our communities. Our focus is the generation, distribution and sale of electricity and how we can transition to a more efficient, transparent and equitable electricity market fuelled by renewable energy. We work hard to ensure communities play a meaningful part in increasing energy efficiency and transitioning to renewable energy.

AEF delivers projects, products and services that ensure that all levels of society have the information, advice, products and services they can trust to help them make this transition. We deliver significant carbon savings through our renewable energy and energy efficiency programs with government, industry, business and community across Australia.

Over the past six years (2013 - 2019) AEF has reduced 330,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from entering Australia’s atmosphere. Some of our most notable achievements include our Energy Advice Service, providing free independent advice to all Australian households, and our Major Projects delivery, providing energy efficient home upgrades to thousands of homes in the Victorian Healthy Homes Program and the EnergySmart Public Housing Project.

Goal 2 - Action Plan2A. Progressively increase our annual targets each year, including our targets of megawatts of renewable energy installed, kilotons of carbon reduced, number of homes retrofitted, and number of home energy assessments and energy advice conversations conducted.

2B. Continue to ensure AEF’s programs are accessible to a diversity of demographics, including to Indigenous, CALD, digitally disadvantaged, regional and rural, and disabled people and communities.

» Apply our knowledge of Energy Insecurity Personas, based on our qualitative research on energy insecure Australians, to all program design and delivery.

» Plan for a just energy transition for all, including consideration of renewable energy project ownership, business opportunities and employment for Indigenous communities and current fossil fuel industry-dependent communities.

2C. Embed a Sustainable Procurement Policy, including minimum standards for recommended products (eg. hot water heat pumps and reverse cycle air conditions with lowest refrigerant greenhouse gases) and supplier product lifecycle practices (eg. solar panel recycling practices).

4 | Australian Energy Foundation Annual Report 2018–19

At a Glance 2018-19During 2018-19, across our activities and projects, we achieved:

772 solar & energy efficiency

installations

72,289 tonnes CO2

abated

2.7 MW of solar

installed

7,523 householdssupported with advice

AEF’s energy efficiency and renewable energy achievements for 2018-19

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9 | Australian Energy Foundation Annual Report 2018–19

7228 Quote requests

79% Solar & batteries 21% Energy Efficiency

Over 94k web sessions & 186k page views

303k content views across social media

17 Businesses 483.5kW

498 Households 2.21MW

28 Batteries 305.9kW

Total GHG Abatement 62,114 Tonnes CO2e

257 Installs 901 Halogen lights replaced

Total GHG Abatement 10,175 Tonnes CO2e

Quote Requests

Websites

Solar Installations

Energy Efficiency UpgradesStrategic Goal 2

Energy Advice ServicesWe celebrated the 6th year of our Energy Advice Services program (known previously as Positive Charge), and it was another strong performing year putting us in good stead as we expand the service across Australia.

• Over 2.2MW of residential solar installed through the program across the 28 subscribing councils in New South Wales and Victoria.

• Over 300kW of battery storage added to the residential solar uptake.

• 257 installs of energy efficiency upgrades including 901 halogen lights replaced.

• Introduced other energy efficiency products through the program including, heat-pump hot water systems and reverse cycle air conditioning, which have been a popular addition to the product range.

We increase energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy in Australia.

• Further product range development underway to support people in the move to all electric homes.

• We provided our services to

17 businesses to support them in the switch to solar and install over 480kW of solar PV.

• 894 lifetime Tonnes of carbon were abated through business energy efficiency upgrades.

• Throughout the year we assisted people with 7228 quote requests, and an additional 295 people called with general energy enquiries.

• Our websites were viewed almost 100,000 times and across our various social channels we reached just over 300,000 impressions.

The Energy Advice Services telephone advice line and website offer tailored advice to householders. Our partnerships with carefully selected suppliers mean that people can be linked with quality products and services to ensure they can make decisions with confidence.

10 | Australian Energy Foundation Annual Report 2018–19

Major Projects Healthy HomesThe Victorian Healthy Homes Programis tracking well after our initial upgrades in winter of 2018. As the first randomized controlled trial research project in Australia, the program is designed to measure whether making a home warmer and drier during winter leads to improved health outcomes. This thermal and energy efficient retrofitting study (funded by Sustainability Victoria) engaged AEF to recruit eligible participants, manage home visits, undertake residential energy scorecard assessments and manage the thermal upgrade installations. The study targets a total of 1,000 low-income households in western Melbourne and the Goulburn Valley.This year we achieved 609 installations across 186 homes and our next phase is well under way.

Energy SmartBeginning in May 2017, the EnergySmart Public Housing Research Project has seen AEF delivering a variety of upgrades to thousands of Department of Health and Human Services low-income dwellings located across Victoria. The project aims to identify how these upgrades provide an energy saving and improved thermal comfort to the tenant. The upgrades included appliance and thermal shell upgrades, behaviour initiatives and Victorian Residential Scorecard Assessments. This year we installed 669 upgrades to 338 homes.

Power Saving BonusThe Victorian Government committed $48m to help Victorians understand their energy bills, compare retail offers and ensure they are getting the best deal from energy providers. Through this program, we have delivered face to face information sessions to hundreds of vulnerable and digitally excluded Victorians to help them get the best deal.

More of the Victorian community is now educated on how they can negotiate a better rate and ensure they are receiving the right discounts. This year we’ve helped save people around 30% on their bills on top of their relevant concessions.

Strategic Goal 2 continued

338 homes upgraded 669 installations 169 reverse-cycle air conditioning

342 thermal upgrades

108 hot water

50 scorecard assessment

Energy SmartHealthy Homes

186 homes upgraded 609 installations 162insulation/ draught-proofing

91 window furnishings

50 reverse-cycle air conditioning

221 gas heating & CO2 tests

6 general trade works

76 electrical & lighting

3 asbestos removal

Further detail on AEF’s energy efficiency and

renewable energy achievements for 2018-19

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Market Outlook End-to-End Zero Carbon Strategies

In 2019, Australians rank climate change at the top of a list of ten possible threats to Australia’s vital interests in the next decade.

We work with you across the full end-to-end of zero carbon solutions.

“ Our role in Australia has never been more important. We are ready to face the issues of energy poverty and the climate emergency head on.“

Alison Rowe, CEO

The summer of 2018/19 was characterised by prolonged, continent-wide heatwaves, bushfires throughout Australia, and heavy rainfall and flooding in northern Queensland. In just 90 days, over 206 records were broken, including record- highest summer temperatures, record number of days over 35°C or above and record -lowest and highest summer total rainfalls.1

The pathways to limit warming to below 2°C relative to pre-industrial levels requires substantial emissions reductions over the next few decades and near zero emissions of CO2 and other long-lived greenhouse gases by the end of the century.”2 Synthesis Report and we are seeing some promising signs of change. Renewable wind and solar energy have already reached cost parity with coal in Australia, and costs continue to fall. If we are to achieve our targets, the pockets of excellence and enthusiasm in government, business and the community need to be shared, replicated and scaled up in order to spread the impact.

There is an urgency to act, and with most Australian adults (64%) seeing climate change as ‘a critical threat’,3 many Local Government Authorities and Business Leaders have shared the sentiments of their community and declared a climate emergency.

Australians have high expectations of their local councils. What they need now is clear information that helps them transition to a zero carbon future where they understand their options to buy and use energy wisely. Solutions also need to address the impacts of climate change on our most vulnerable citizens. A recent KPMG report says that more than 240,000 Australians are experiencing energy poverty, this includes over 200,000 children. Large, low income families in public and social housing in our big cities are the most exposed. Indigenous communities are

also amongst the hardest hit. This is having a huge impact on quality of life for many Australians. The Energy Poverty Action Initiative of the World Economic Forum asserts that “access to energy is fundamental to improving quality of life and is a key imperative for economic development.” Australia currently has a significant opportunity to use our response to the climate crisis to transition our rapidly changing energy sector to a fairer, more equitable service for all. It is an unprecedented moment of opportunity, risk and choice for humanity.

The Australian Energy Foundation is leading the way to an equitable zero carbon society by demonstrating the pathways; influencing and inspiring to build understanding, investment and action; and delivering solutions that have a positive impact through bold, innovative and effective projects and campaigns.

1. Climate Council Report – The Angriest Summer.

2. IPCC Climate Change 2014 3. 2019 Lowy Institute Poll – Australian

Attitudes to Climate Change.

Current State Assessment

Engage Awareness Products Services

Program Delivery

Strategy Design

Program Design

• Market comparison • Baseline (Activity/GHG) • Feasibility Study • Business Case

Output• Feasibility Study/

Energy Reduction Feasibility

• Assessment/ Mkt Assessment

• Community Engagement

• Quarterly Roundtable

Output Program Report

• Info Sessions • Newsletters • Energy Advice

Centre• Campaigns

Output • Report• Presentations• Referrals

• Solar• Battery• Heat Pump• RC AC• Insulation• Draught proofing• Pool pumps• Window film

Output Referrals

• Program Management

• Whitelabelling

• Context • Options analysis • Consultation • Design

methodology/framework

Output • Strategy

(targets)

• Pilots and Trials • Program Initiation

Output • Program Plan• Action Plans

Evaluation• Research • Campaign Analytics

Output • Evaluation Report • Research

AEF’s Zero Carbon Services, available to government, industry, businesses and community

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Goal 3. A sustainable organisation.

At AEF, our active Sustainability Committee leads the workplace in ensuring our practices are as sustainable as possible, going far beyond just using recycled printing paper. Our Sustainability Committee meets bi-monthly to discuss and plan initiatives to cut work-related waste and increase staff environmental awareness. Our sustainability practices go above beyond emissions and waste reduction, to emissions and waste minimisation.

AEF has had net zero emissions since 2016-17, and we officially gained Carbon Neutral Certification in 2019. We purchase 100% GreenPower (electricity from renewable energy) from our energy retailer. Our office shut down procedures ensure all lights and appliances are turned off at the switchboard each day.

Our Sustainable Travel Policy prioritises low or no emission transport options (walking, cycling, public transport) over the use of our electric car, carpooling and car share vehicles. We support staff in choosing sustainable travel options by providing public transport travel cards, a folding bicycle, and a $250 bicycle purchase subsidy per staff member per annum. Air travel is avoided where possible.

Our Sustainable Events Policy requires that the carbon emissions resulting from our major events (conferences, major workshops, End of Year Staff Parties) are offset through purchasing carbon credits. All catering at AEF is vegetarian, vegan where

possible, and as low-packaging as possible. We participate in Plastic Free July, exploring options for cutting down on single-use plastic consumption, and offer reusable take-away cups and containers to all staff. The Sustainability Committee runs education sessions for staff on sustainability topics, and a weekly rotating kitchen roster ensures that all staff are training in sustainable office practices, contributing to lifelong sustainability learning.

AEF’s Melbourne office cut landfill waste by 66% in 2019, from 5.3kg/week in FY17-18, to 1.8kg/week in FY18-19. This was done through a number of initiatives. Communal plastic packaged goods such teabags, biscuits, milk, cleaning supplies were replaced with non-plastic, sustainable, Fairtrade and local alternatives such as bulk loose-leaf tea, snacks and cleaning supplies from no-packaging bulk food stores, and reusable glass milk bottles. The office also implemented soft-plastic and e-waste collection, further information sessions on compost bin usage, and an office Bokashi bin for citrus, meat, and dairy-based waste.

We are expanding our reach across Australia in order to accelerate the energy transition, and now have office spaces in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. As our services expand nationally and our staff numbers grow, we will ensure this larger organisation remains sustainable, supports its people, and maximises its impact.

Goal 3 - Action Plan3A. Implement best practice office sustainability practices across all future office spaces (in line with AEF’s Melbourne office), including purchasing carbon offsets for all major events, purchasing low-waste communal products, instating comprehensive daily office shut down procedures, and supporting staff sustainable travel through provision of transport cards and bicycle subsidies. Include temporary co-working spaces where possible.

3B. Continue to complete annual EOFY carbon accounting and Carbon Neutral Certification.

3C. Continue to apply our energy efficiency and renewable energy advice to our own office spaces.

3D. Continue to purchase 100% Green Power for all offices.

3E. Commit to reducing AEF’s carbon footprint each year from 2020 emissions, in relation to FTE staff numbers.

3F. Continue to monitor, evaluate and review all Sustainability Policies. Monitor Climate Emergency Action Plan quarterly, and evaluate annually. Review Sustainable Events Policy, Sustainable Procurement Policy and Sustainable Travel Policy annually.

3G. Apply a continuous improvement approach to office waste management. Allow staff time for Sustainability Committee meetings and initiatives, and assign at least one Sustainability Committee representative per office space.

3H. Conduct regular staff information sessions on sustainability. Implement sustainability commitment into staff Performance Plans, alongside our Workplace Health and Safety commitments. Train all AEF staff in engaging in meaningful climate change conversations with their communities and networks.

3I. Commit to making this Climate Emergency Action Plan public and visible on our organisation’s website.

11 | Australian Energy Foundation Annual Report 2018–19

Strategic Goal 3

Walking the talkAt the AEF Brunswick Office we pride ourselves on implementing best practice environmental management. Office sustainability is championed and facilitated by an internal staff committee called ZING. The ZING committee are role models for best practice sustainability and regularly conduct education sessions for the organisation. The ZING Committee’s achievements for FY18-19:

01. Striving for a zero-waste office by educating the team about waste management and recycling.In FY17-18 we sent 5.3kg of waste to landfill per week, this FY18-19 we sent 1.8kg in an average week. Reductions in waste going to landfill was achieved through:

• Implementing an office Bokashi bin and compost collection for organic waste (processed locally).

• Introducing soft plastic and e-waste collection in the office.

• Phasing out the purchasing of plastic packaged goods for office communal use, such as teabags, biscuits, milk bottles, hand soap and dishwashing powder. This has been replaced with purchasing from bulk food stores that allow you to refill your own container.

• Participation in Plastic Free July and providing KeepCups and containers for takeaway food and drink.

• Running regular education sessions on recycling and sharing knowledge through channels on office messaging. A weekly rotating kitchen roster ensures all staff are trained in the sustainable practices around the office and contributes to lifelong learning.

• Cloth towels replace paper handtowel (although, we maintain paper hand towels for when staff are sick to reduce infection).

• 100% recycled paper items are always purchased for office use.

• Vegetarian catering policy for staff meetings and events.

• Sustainable events policy

• Offset all major events, such as Spark!, Thrive, Christmas Party

Measuring, reducing and offsetting our emissions is an important part of our operations. This is not only to improve our environmental performance but to showcase climate leadership.We are now working towards achieving Carbon Neutral Certification.

We are a sustainable organisation.

24.45t CO2e Carbon footprintCO2e inclusive of our electricity usage which is purchased through Powershop a carbon neutral retailer. Emissions AEF will offset: 14.5t CO2e.

152kg Paper usedWe use Mindful Paper - a carbon neutral certified brand of paper.

Emissions at a glance

24.45t CO2e Business travel

20,626kWh Electricity used

AEF’s emissions in 2018-19

46.92t CO2e 25.26t CO2e

25.88t CO2e

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Annual Evaluation ChecklistThe below Evaluation Matrix will be used at each annual Climate Emergency Action Plan evaluation to ensure that the action plan is successfully implemented. Each action will be assigned a traffic light referring to successful achievement for that financial year. Green refers to successfully completed, amber refers to partially completed, and red refers to not completed.

Comments will provide necessary organisational changes to ensure that red and amber actions are successful in proceeding financial years.

Assessment (EOFY)

Action # 20-21 21-22 22-23 23-24 24-25 Comments

1A

1B

1C

1D

2A

2B

2C

3A

3B

3C

3D

3E

3F

3G

3H

3I

About Australian Energy Foundation

The Australian Energy

Foundation is leading the

way to an equitable zero

carbon society.

We are a for-purpose

organisation whose work

benefits all Australians.

We want all Australians to have access to the

affordable and renewable energy they need

to:

Our RoleThe Australian Energy Foundation accelerates the energy transition by empowering communities to take action.

Our WorkThrough our expertise, tenacity and partnerships, we:

Demonstrate the pathways to a zero carbon society.

Influence and inspire to build understanding, investment and action.

Deliver solutions that have a positive impact.

Be healthy

Have meaningful

work

Maintain financial stability

Connect with their community

Prosper through continuous

learning

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aef.com.au | 03 9385 8585