Climate change

What are we doing to reduce our carbon footprint?

We are actively working to cut our carbon footprint. We:

• Are part of the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), the largest emissions reduction project ever undertaken by the local government sector in Australia. From 1 July 2021, the majority of our electricity will come from Victorian wind farms. From July 2022, 100 per cent will be renewable.
• upgraded 6,600 street lights to energy-efficient T5 fluorescents and LEDs
• advocate to the Victorian Government on various climate action issues
• implemented a Smart Street Lighting trial that reduced electricity use and carbon emissions
• upgraded sportsground lighting to energy-efficiency LEDs
• installed solar PVs on 46 Council buildings
• use recycled concrete in our road and pavement bases
• adopted a Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Policy and include Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) features in Council buildings and streetscapes
• plant at least 1,000 trees each year.
• joined the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action.

Learn more about what we’re doing to cut our carbon footprint in the Our Climate Emergency Response Strategy 2021–2025.

At a special meeting on Tuesday 5 May 2020, Council passed a motion to declare a climate emergency. Council also committed to an ambitious new carbon emission reduction targets:

• net zero corporate emissions by 2025
• net zero community emissions by 2030.

Learn more about the climate emergency declaration.

We are well on track to meet our new target of zero net corporate emissions by 2025. In 2020–21, we reduced our carbon emissions by 40% since our baseline year (2014-15). In 2020–21, Council generated 6,888 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Learn more about our sustainability progress.

How do we advocate for climate change?

Local communities often can’t easily reduce their environmental impact on their own and local government has limited options to solve these problems. We advocate for changes in state and federal policy such as better public transport, higher standards for buildings to help reduce energy consumption and new generation waste and recycling facilities for the region. We undertake our own advocacy as well as through the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA), Climate Emergency Australia and the Inner South-East Metropolitan Partnership’s Regional Sustainability Advocacy Strategy.

Who are we working with?

Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA)

The Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) is a formal alliance of eight councils in Melbourne’s east. EAGA is committed to delivering mitigation and adaptation projects and advocating for initiatives that support sustainable and low carbon communities. Members include the City of Boroondara, Glen Eira City Council, Knox City Council, Maroondah City Council, City of Monash, City of Stonnington, City of Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges Council.

Climate Emergency Australia

Climate Emergency Australia is a newly formed alliance of local government working together to have all levels of government acknowledge and respond to the climate emergency with the urgency that is required based on scientific evidence.

Cities Power Partnership

Cities Power Partnership is Australia’s largest network of local councils leading the way to a thriving, zero emissions future. To date, over 150 councils are members and they represent almost 60 per cent of Australia’s population. Councils taking part in the Cities Power Partnership pledge five actions to tackle climate change locally, from ramping up renewable energy through to planning sustainable transport systems.

The Global Covenant of Mayors

We are a member of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM). More than 10,000 cities across six continents and 138 countries are part of the GCoM, the world’s largest cooperative effort among mayors and city leaders to reduce carbon emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change.

GCoM cities are united in their shared goals to increase access to renewable, clean energy, build healthy environments and promote initiatives and best practices that will accelerate the fight against climate change.

TAKE2

TAKE2 is the Victorian Government’s pledge program that shows every Victorian how to take action on climate change. We’re one of 22 Victorian councils to take up their pledge to keep the temperature rise under two degrees and transition to net zero emissions.