The results of the CCP programmes are summarised in the following points:

• Significant CO2-e abatements and financial savings have been made.
For example in 2009 abatements were 0.7% of Australia’s total emissions. No other sector was reporting similar results.
• The CCP programme raised awareness about climate change broadly in the involved councils/local communities.
• The CCP programme gave councils a strong focus, which led to the formulation of a coherent program on climate change, and allowed them to take on a leadership role in the local community. The leadership role was important in aligning the agendas of different stakeholders, and in local efforts to achieve attitude- and culture changes towards a more environmentally sustainable local community.
• The CCP programme created a network among participating councils for sharing experiences and motivating each other. It also provided a framework to engage with other levels of government, an internal business rationale for climate change action, and access to international best practice.
• Over half of the involved councils completed milestone 5 in the programme. 47% of councils now have a specific climate change action plan, while 36% have a cross-departmental plan. All councils that have action plans have set reduction targets for council’s own emissions and about half have also set reduction targets for their community emissions.
• For 45% of the involved councils the CCP programme has had effects on council organization. Typical changes are: a) creating a position as a Climate Change Officer or Energy Manager (63% of councils), b) making a specific department responsible for climate change action (21% of councils), c) incorporation of the council’s plan on climate change into the council’s long term strategic plan (94% of councils with plan have done this).
• Concerning the use of conventional media to engage the local community in actions to reduce CO2 emissions the local newspaper is the most commonly used tool (75% of councils). Educational programmes for schools and other groups of citizens were used by 68% of councils. Concerning digital media almost all councils use their websites to engage the local community. Interactive methods (Facebook, blogs, Twitter etc.) were used by very few councils.
• Climate change adaptation has become an important new item in council action plans. However, 76% of councils still prioritize reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in their action plans, while 24% now prioritize adaptation.

The report also deals with the main political, organisational and financial dilemmas that councils have been confronted with when implementing climate change action plan, and the strategies that councils have developed for tackling these dilemmas.