Climate action
Strategic context
We declared a climate emergency in October 2019. Since, we have joined a global movement to ensure safe and sustainable environments for future generations.
In 2018, we passed a resolution outlining 13 key climate change focus areas. This action established a carbon neutrality target for our operations by 2028, and allocated an initial $5M to fund various works, including a solar and energy efficiency roll out program.
This means leading our community by reducing emissions from our own activities and services, while also supporting it in positive climate actions.
Corporate emissions
Our plan sets out 9 priority actions to reach our 2028 zero net emissions target.
| Our goals |
What are we doing? |
| Climate action culture |
We are supporting staff to undertake climate action in their roles, and foster an open-minded, innovative and collaborative culture. |
| Zero net emissions for buildings |
We are reducing energy use with best practice, environmentally sustainable design integrated into our capital works, and deliver a building energy efficiency upgrade program |
| Green fleet |
We are replacing all fleets with electric vehicles or other zero emission vehicles. |
| Low carbon lighting |
We are replacing open space, sports field and street lighting with energy efficient LEDs. |
| Electric leisure centres |
We are upgrading pool pumps and filtration systems with efficient systems, trial pool blankets and replace gas fired boilers with heat pumps. |
| Maximise renewable energy |
We are pursuing renewable energy generation on our sites and power purchasing agreements. |
| New priority areas |
We are identifying actions to reduce emissions from waste, business travel, paper and water use. |
| Green suppliers |
We are embedding sustainable procurement in council processes, and support our suppliers to reduce emissions from procured goods and services. |
| Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement (MERI) |
We are developing a MERI framework for staff and community to identify how we are tracking and to identify areas for continual improvement. |
Corporate Emissions Reduction Plan
Municipal emissions
We are currently developing our Community Emissions Reduction Plan: your input will be welcomed via Shaping Banyule from April 2020.
We do not have operational control over these sources, like we do with our own. Partnering with the community to achieve the breadth and scale of action required is central to our climate action commitments.
| Our role |
What will we do? |
| Collaborator |
We will partner with households, community groups and businesses in Banyule, as well as NAGA Councils and other governments for to accomplish actions. |
| Enabler |
We will facilitate others’ action through training, grants and other financial assistance. |
| Information and advice provider |
We will be a trusted resource that informs people’s choice of services and providers. |
| Activator |
We will use existing links with our diverse community to broaden the conversation with those who are not yet active in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change. |
| Broker |
We will connect players in and beyond the municipality, e.g. to broker partnerships for power purchase agreements (PPAs). |
| Advocate |
We will be the intermediary between state and federal governments to mobilise community action. |
What have we achieved?
We are on the right track! We are already reducing our energy consumption and increasing use of renewable power. We have:
- upgraded building and street lighting to more efficient alternatives;
- installed solar power at many of our buildings, including WaterMarc and the Centre Ivanhoe; and
- replaced our diesel delivery vans with electric alternatives.
Each year we are using less energy. In just 4 years, since the opening of WaterMarc, we have cut emissions from over 21,500 to 15,300 tonnes a year. When we have a clear plan where everyone contributes, rapid change can happen!
Find out more about what we have already achieved in the:
State of the Environment
What can you do?
The actions you take matter: you play an integral part in influencing peers to take climate action and adopt green practices, e.g. consulting the Green Electricity Guide or becoming aware of resources from the Climate Council.