Cities Power Partnership (CPP) is a network of 186 Australian councils collaborating to scale climate action. CPP played a large role advocating on behalf of its member councils so they could have a say in national policies affecting the delivery of their services. To help amplify council voices, CPP was a member of the Better Futures Australia (BFA) local government working group. Research by the BFA local government working group highlighted poor coordination across Australia's three tiers of government as a barrier to scaling local climate action. With the right tools, councils have the potential to drive the implementation of national climate policies and ensure meaningful results at the local level.

Challenge

Australian councils and their communities are on the frontlines of addressing the impacts of climate change. The lack of coordination between Australia's three tiers of government inhibits councils from fully realising their potential to implement climate initiatives. This challenge, though widely recognised as a significant issue, is often discussed ambiguously, with poor alignment on a clear path forward.

Our design challenge was to reframe the problem of poor government coordination within the Australian context. We needed to take a complex issue and propose a viable pathway forward. The aim of this was to bring to life an inclusive and adaptive form of governance that fosters collaboration and innovation across all levels of government.

To achieve this, CPP teamed up with the Melbourne Centre for Cities, and in collaboration with BFA, developed a report that the sector could use to engage the national government and advocate for policy changes which empowered councils to implement solutions.

Process

To produce a report that showcased what was possible with improved coordination, while also identifying existing challenges, we shifted between understanding the broader context of the problem and zooming into actionable ideas from those working on the ground. The framework that guided my approach encouraged us to understand and then explore the potential for multilevel governance before we materialised a report. The full research methodology is documented here.

I've since recognised the limitations of applying linear processes (ie. design thinking) - planting the seed for systemic design.
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Outcomes

• 'Many hands make light work' was used by Climate Council campaigners in meetings with federal and state government ministers during discussions about Australia's climate policies. A copy was specifically requested by Australia’s former Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon. Jenny McAllister.
• The report was used by the local government sector to advocate for more inclusive and collaborative models of governance to give local government a stronger voice in the policies that directly impact them. For example, it was referenced in:
  • A submission from the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliances to the Australian Climate Change Authority, and
  • The ‍2024 Australian Local Government Climate Review. ‍

• While immediate policy changes have not followed, the report has helped shape ongoing discussions aiming to influence the integration of subnational governments into Australia's national climate policies.
  • The report was cited by the City of Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, during her keynote at CPP’s 2023 Climate Summit for Local Government. This helped shape the conversation on intergovernmental collaboration. Its insights were further explored in a panel discussion with Victoria’s Minister for Climate Action, the Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio.

Lessons learned

• Adapt the process if it’s not getting you to where you need to be. In hindsight, I would have engaged local practitioners earlier in the process with less emphasis on desktop research. Leveraging the experience of others helps refine and converge your thinking more efficiently.
• Storytelling and principles have an important role to play when communicating research findings. Sometimes its too hard - and not necessary - to communicate all of the key findings. We need to consider alternative ways of communicating to give the best chance for knowledge exchange.‍
• Prioritise how the information will be most valuable for the audience. Make sure the insights are actionable and directly relevant to those who will implement or act on the findings. Delineating the roles and responsibilities of seperate actors can help with this.