Research projects

Towards Zero Net Emissions in the NAGA region
Zero net emission targets are being established by local governments, businesses and individuals world-wide to demonstrate their commitment to strong action on climate change. Whilst information on zero net emission methodologies is growing and can be used to inform development of a NAGA Regional Zero Net Emissions Plan, the feasibility and methodologies for meeting such a target on a regional scale requires significant further research.

Research underway in 2008-9 will contribute to the development of reliable baseline data, and scope the key priorities and opportunities for NAGA to make meaningful contributions towards the target. The research will focus on stationary energy, transport and waste; it will not include goods (embodied energy) and services. The research will also investigate potential local government roles in offsets provisions. The findings will be available from April 2009.

Local Scale Energy Data
To be able to monitor and manage trends at the local level, accurate energy consumption data is required. NAGA is researching the value and need for local scale energy data, identifying barriers and developing a proposed way forward. This will be further investigated as part of NAGA's Towards Zero Net Emissions project.

Local Government Case Studies
In 2007, NAGA hosted a student internship to research local government zero net emissions plans and strategies. The research report which can be downloaded below, presented 4 local government case studies.

Carbon Neutral Communities
NAGA is one of the industry partners for the Carbon Neutral Communities research project (2007-2009) being led by RMIT's Centre for Design. The project is funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant.
The research aims to:
1. Identify carbon neutral potential, and social, economic, cultural and capacity barriers to achieving this potential;
2. Assess the application of established techniques to address such barriers and provide practical solutions to carbon transition;
3. Develop and test strategies for building the capacity needed to facilitate the breakthrough required in achieving carbon neutral communities by 2020, the key date in The National Greenhouse Strategy ; and
4. Disseminate this knowledge to project stakeholders and the wider community.
For more information on the research project click on this link to the CNC website

Download document

• Local Government Case Staudies: Zero Net Emissions Review
  Research report for NAGA Student internship 2007. The report does not necessarily reflect the view of NAGA or its individual members.