The ACE_R: Achieving Carbon Emissions Reduction Program was developed in 2009 by the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) in collaboration with its six member councils; the Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater, City of Belmont, Shire of Kalamunda, Shire of Mundaring and the City of Swan.  Perth's Eastern Region aspires to become a leader in strategically dealing with climate change within the local government sector and wishes to inspire others to also take up the challenge of mitigating emissions both within their corporate operations and their community.

The ACE_R Program is an initiative developed to encourage and support member councils within Perth's Eastern Region to monitor, report on and reduce their corporate carbon emissions. The ACE_R Program also provides information and education to the community and local businesses in the region on reducing energy consumption and other sustainability and climate change related issues.

Developments over the past 18 months include:

• Joining the WALGA Emissions Reporting Platform;
• Home Energy Audit Kit; and
• Issues paper on Carbon Pricing Impacts for Local Government.

The ACE_R Program is based on the belief that to affect change globally, you first must act locally.

The ACE_R Program was initiated in response to the Australian Government's withdrawal of funding from ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Program in 2009. EMRC and its member councils determined it was necessary to continue to monitor and to mitigate their emissions as well as to educate the community by leading by example.

Previously under the CCP Program, member councils undertook a milestone framework aimed at reducing their corporate and community emissions. Once all milestones were met, local governments moved into the CCP PLUS phase: continuing inventories, implementing greenhouse gas reduction and abatement measures and implementing actions in their Greenhouse Gas Action Plans.

All member councils achieved CCP PLUS between 2005 and 2007.

The ACE_R Program continues the important work begun under the CCP Program.  Due to the defunding of the CCP Program the software used to conduct inventories was withdrawn. Consequently, the ability of EMRC and member councils to measure, report and reduce their emissions was removed. EMRC commenced ongoing discussions with the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) while they developed a new Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Abatement Platform designed specifically for local government.

The WALGA Emissions Reporting Platform is provided as a hosted service by Greensense Climate Change Consulting; not only filling the gaps left behind by the defunding of the CCP Program, but also providing a basis for future reporting with regards to compliance with the National Greenhouse Emissions Reporting System (NGERS).

EMRC and participating member councils joined the WALGA / Greensense Emissions Reporting Platform in 2010.

For more information regarding the WALGA Platform, please go to the WALGA website at http://www.walgaclimatechange.com.au/walga-reporting-platform.htm or contact the Environmental Projects Officer (details below).