Local Governments and Climate Change Sustainable Energy Planning and Implementation in Small and Medium Sized Communities Introduction

The reality of the human impact on climate change is now widely accepted, with the extent and potential catastrophic magnitude increasingly recognised by scientists and politicians, also by business people and citizens. Scientific climate observations, the development of scenarios on which planning and decisions can be based, studies on the economic impact of climate change, and monitoring actual impacts - at the macro (world) and micro level (community) - all point in a specific direction: humans must change towards sustainable energy solutions and change their lifestyle. As the urban population continues to grow, the centres of human life require a drastic rethink in terms of energy and the use of resources, also from a climate change mitigation and adaptation perspective. People are looking to their governments to respond appropriately. They are waiting for courageous leadership, guidance, motivation and direction - they need to know that a more coherent climate protection response is being developed. Expectations in this regard are particularly directed towards national government, but all other levels as well. Citizens are also looking towards their local governments, with the local impact of climate change requiring a local response, with plans for community based adaptation and local climate change mitigation. This publication addresses local governments and climate change, with a specific focus on smaller sized communities and renewable energy solutions.