Bold targets set for Sydney

The City of Sydney has set some ambitious new targets on the back of its long-term program, Sustainable Sydney 2030. The plan — titled Environmental Action 2016–2021 — aims for 50% of electricity used in the local area to come from renewables by 2030 and for net zero emissions by 2050. It takes into account advances in new technologies and puts some strong actions into play over the next five years.

Input was sought from business, property organisations and the state government, including the Property Council of Australia, Energy Efficiency Council, Green Building Council Australia, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore has been a vocal proponent of emissions reduction and says that the plan addresses the need to slow global warming and aligns with agreement by world leaders at last year’s Paris climate talks to limit global temperature rise to less than two degrees.

“Temperatures are already increasing and by 2070, Sydney could be up to three degrees hotter. The City of Sydney is getting on with the job of slowing this dangerous warming while setting bold new targets for the future.

“After eight years of progress, it’s time for us to raise the bar by consolidating the City’s excellent environmental work and setting targets and actions for coming years.

“Environmental Action 2016–2021 charts our plans for the next five years and includes strong, new actions for both the City’s operations and the local area. Through this plan we will massively boost renewable energy for the local area, facilitate more recycled water schemes and encourage Sydney’s first net-zero emissions buildings,” said Moore.

In developing the plan, the City drew on insights and data from its environmental strategies and master plans, committing to targets in energy, water, climate adaptation, waste, transport and greening.

The plan offers a range of actions for the City to take between now and 2021 that will help achieve its longer-term 2030 goals. These include:

• a city-wide challenge to encourage Sydney’s first net zero emissions buildings;
• an energy retrofit program for residential apartment buildings;
• $10 million boost for renewable energy across the local area;
• developing a waste strategy to convert city waste into a valuable resource; and
• encouraging recycled water schemes for the city.

Environmental Action 2016–2021 also advocates specific actions by state and federal governments. These include higher BASIX targets for water and energy, higher environmental standards for urban renewal precincts and water pricing adjustments to protect the viability of water recycling.

“When developing Sustainable Sydney 2030, more than 90% of Sydneysiders told us they wanted action on climate change,” Moore said.

“We set ambitious but achievable targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 and we’ve been busy getting on with the job. Through planning, investment and hard work we’re making significant progress.

“The City is Australia’s first carbon-neutral government and has already reduced emissions in our own buildings and operations by 27%. Greenhouse gas emissions in our local area have fallen by 19% since 2006, while our economy has grown 27% — one of the strongest in the country.

“Cities are on the front line in the fight against climate change and we will continue to work hard to ensure Sydney is one of the world’s leading green cities.

“But we can’t do this alone — we need change at state and federal levels on outdated rules and regulations holding us back from maximising energy, water and waste efficiencies.

“Our environmental action plan includes a number of crucial advocacy actions such as calling for the state government to increase for the BASIX environmental standards for new houses and apartments. These have not been reviewed in 12 years. We are also calling for a national rule change to make electricity cheaper and cleaner and encourage local generation.

“We welcome the federal government’s announcement to lower the Commercial Building Disclosure Threshold, so more commercial buildings must disclose their energy efficiency when they sell or lease a building. We are calling for increased climate action from all levels of government, so together, we can make a real difference on climate change,” said Moore.

The City is working with businesses to reduce emissions and make significant savings through programs including Smart Green Business, CitySwitch and the Better Buildings Partnership.

The Better Buildings Partnership includes the owners of more than half the commercial office space in the city centre and was established by the City of Sydney. By improving the energy efficiency of its buildings, the partnership has reduced its carbon emissions by 45% and saved more than $30 million a year from the bottom line.

The City is also taking action to improve the environmental performance of its own operations. It has already retrofitted 45 of its properties to reduce electricity and water use and generate operational savings of over $1 million a year.

The City’s other sustainability achievements to date include:

• replacing 6604 street lights with more efficient LEDs, reducing energy use from street lighting by nearly 45% and saving up to $800,000 in electricity bills and maintenance a year;
• installing solar photovoltaic panels and hot water systems on 40 City-owned buildings;
• a zero increase in emissions from the City’s fleet of vehicles since 2014;
• planting more than 11,000 new street trees since 2005 to absorb pollution and provide shade; and
• harvesting and treating 590 million litres of stormwater through a water re-use system at Sydney Park.

The draft plan will be on public exhibition until 12 August. Click here for more information.