RPS trains planning industry on climate change

RPS is set to enhance the ability of Australia’s town planners to address climate change.

As part of its respected Certified Practicing Planner course, the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) has engaged RPS to develop and nationally deliver a Climate Change unit.

Leading consultants in climate change mitigation and adaptation, RPS has provided its expertise to government and private sector projects ranging from residential apartments to renewable energy projects. The unit champions the relevance of the issue to the planning industry and provides expertise on how to address it.

The Climate Change unit will be led by RPS’ climate change and sustainability technical director Andrew Zuch, who has been at the forefront of national, state and local climate change policy development. Andrew has more than a decade of experience in identifying and planning responses to climate change for public and private sector clients.

Mr Zuch congratulated PIA for including climate change in the CPP curriculum and its leadership in acknowledging the subject’s importance to the industry and the Australian community.

“In a short time, climate change has moved from an issue that had little direct relationship to planning processes to one that is increasingly embedded in planning policy and legislation,” Mr Zuch said.

“It is now widely accepted that our planning systems and professionals must respond to the challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change.

“Well planned communities and appropriately constructed buildings are central to the country’s climate change response.”

Mr Zuch said the unit would teach planners how to plan for climate change by providing them with an enhanced understanding of the science of climate change and planners’ role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the impacts of climate change.

PIA’s climate change unit commenced in July 2010 with the first session receiving positive feedback from participants:

"Andrew [Zuch] had great energy and passion and obviously knows his topic - 9 out of 10."
Partner, Urban Planning Consultancy

"Well presented with good ground coverage and diversification - 10 of out 10."
Principal Development Planner, NSW Shire Council

The climate change unit was awarded a Merit in the Planning Scholarship Research and Teaching Category in the 2010 PIA (QLD) Awards for Planning Excellence.

To enrol visit www.planning.org.au