MELTON Council will look at employing a climate change officer to
address greenhouse gas emissions across the shire.

Environmental services co-ordinator Rodney Thomas said having an officer
to focus on the worldwide issue was one way to tackle climate change.

He said the council had started other programs to make Melton more
environmentally friendly.

"We planted 30,000 trees last year, which will help to absorb carbon
emissions and create more oxygen," he said. "We have also switched some
vehicles in our fleet from six-cylinders to four-cylinders.

"Four-cylinder vehicles have smaller motors, use less fuel and produce
fewer gases."

Mr Thomas said the council recently joined the Cities for Climate
Protection program and was a founding member of the Western Alliance for
Greenhouse Action.

"By being a part of these programs we aim to put plans in place to help
lower emissions, set reduction goals and implement action," he said.

Other municipalities across Melbourne have committed to zero-emission
goals as part of the Beyond Zero Emissions program, which alerts
municipalities to their energy consumption levels.

Beyond Zero councils are then helped to target extra emissions and plan
to lower them.

Melbourne Council has adopted a target of zero emissions by 2020.

Yarra Ranges Shire in northeast Melbourne will spend $790,000 this year
in a bid to become carbon neutral within 12 months.

Mr Thomas said Melton Council had not formally endorsed the Zero
Emissions program, but the other initiatives in place would help reduce
emissions.

Melton Mayor Justin Mammarella said climate change was an issue everyone
was facing and the council would do what it could to address it.

"We have a large rural area here, especially with our wine and olive
industries, and climate change will affect everyone," he said.

"We're waiting on advice from the environment department, but to employ
a climate change officer is a move I will support and encourage."