One council might feel they are too small to make a difference, but not so! The climate emergency declaration trend started with just one council in Australia and as of mid-2021 had spread to over 2,000 jurisdictions in 34 countries.

The combined voices of all local governments around Australia, if they unite to declare a climate emergency, makes citizens voices harder to ignore. Across the world, councils making declarations inspired each other and the wave of action prompted national declarations and, in many cases, new national climate targets.

Our roads, homes and waste systems are all part of our energy consumption and climate emissions. Importantly, local government leadership helps members of the community realise that urgent action by everyone is essential. For people who are worried about the future, councils acknowledging the urgency and taking action accordingly provides the first glimmer of hope in an otherwise frightening time.

CORENA, Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia, is a pioneer in the community energy sector. It manages a revolving fund that has been steadily built up from individual donations over the past 8 years. The fund provides loans to community groups to put solar on their buildings, to improve their energy efficiency, to replace gas appliances or to buy electric vehicles.

CORENA works with each organisation to ensure that loan repayments are smaller than the energy savings. This means the not-for-profits in your community can spend their precious $$ on the important work they do in your council area.

Every council area has many community groups, often operating out of council buildings. Make sure they are aware that they can apply for a CORENA project and be part of community-wide decarbonisation efforts without diverting any funds from their core community services.​​

Homes without gas will eventually be running on 100% renewable energy as grid electricity becomes cleaner across Australia. Tasmania and ACT operate at almost 100% renewables and South Australia is reaching 60%. All-electric households already have lower bills and lower carbon emissions when compared to homes with gas. Houses that are designed with gas are frequently locked into extra energy bills and inefficient forms of heating and cooking.

The best time to change old habits is when investment is made in new infrastructure and appliances. Supporting your community to convert appliances can help speed up climate action.​ This makes sure we invest in equipment like efficient induction cooktops and heat pumps for hot water, instead of locking ourselves into generating carbon emissions we could easily avoid.

Recognising that the era of gas is over is a first step in reducing community dependence on fossil fuels. Lead the way in your community by changing the gas use in council facilities to renewable electricity. You could even apply for a loan with CORENA to get the project underway!​

Solar energy and energy efficiency can be quick climate actions that repay themselves in less than five years but often councils, low income residents and community organisations don't have sufficient upfront capital. A revolving fund can provide access to the funds needed to get started with climate action. Each time a loan is repaid, those funds can be used yet again to support more climate action in your region.

CORENA's revolving fund proves the power of this model. In just eight years CORENA has fundraised $500,000, but lent more than $800,000. Altogether we have installed 670kW of solar energy equivalent. Every project has produced energy savings that are larger than the loan repayments.

Councils are exploring ways to achieve reductions in community-wide carbon emissions. ​​Imagine what a revolving fund could do to make sure access to capital isn't the barrier to taking climate action for anyone in your community.

Councils often support community organisations in their area through grant programs. They also have goals for supporting residents and reducing emissions. A community fund can empower everyone to support climate and community at the same time.

Here's how it could work:

• pick an inspiring project, such as every local pensioner having an efficient reverse-cycle air conditioner to protect them during heat waves and also to keep them warm in winter without needing to switch on their gas heating
• set up a council-managed revolving fund to offer interest-free loans for the selected project, with loan repayments made via a special charge on rates notices
• invite everyone in the community to donate into the revolving fund – a great way of empowering the community to take practical collective action on the climate emergency!
• loan repayments and on-going donations continue to grow the fund, reducing community-wide carbon emissions, project after project. This is a wonderful method for community and council to work together to achieve climate goals.