Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney

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Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Environmental Strategy
2021 - 2025 (Draft)
May 2021

Green Global Connected
Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Contents
1   Message from the Lord Mayor                               5

2   Caring for Country                                        6

3   Executive summary                                         7

4   Our achievements since 2016                               9

5   Our targets                                               11

6   Why we need to act                                        13
    A heating planet                                          13
    The cost of inaction and climate risk                     14
    Green recovery – the benefits of action                   15
    The role of cities                                        16
    What we heard from the community                          17

7   Smart and resilient City operations                       19
    Reducing our footprint                                    20
    A net-zero organisation                                   20
    Water-sensitive operations                                23
    Reducing operational waste                                25
    Climate resilience and risk management                    26
    Socially responsible investments                          26
    Actions                                                   27

8   Efficient, future-proof buildings and transport powered
    by renewable energy                                       29
    Working together                                          30
    Energy efficient buildings                                30
    Reducing transport emissions                              31
    Choosing renewable energy                                 31
    Green economy growth                                      34
    Partnering with our key sectors                           35
    Environmental grants and sponsorship program              39
    Actions                                                   41
Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Contents
9   A regenerative and inclusive city   43
    Identifying solutions               44
    A regenerative city                 44
    Our city is on Gadigal land         46
    Inclusive environmental action      47
    Reducing embodied carbon            47
    Urban heat mitigation               48
    Monitoring air quality              48
    A water-sensitive city              49
    Managing waste and resources        51
    A circular economy                  54
    Actions                             55

10 Strong foundations for delivery      57
    Background                          58
    Actions                             58

11 Implementing the Strategy            59
12 Strategy context                     60
Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Message from
the Lord Mayor
In 2007 Sydney was the first             But we know the world is not on
Australian city to become carbon         track to meet the Paris Agreement
neutral and this year we met our         targets and avert catastrophic
2008 goal of 70 per cent emissions       climate change, and that we need
reduction by 2030 – nine years early.    to do more. We declared a climate
                                         emergency in 2019, together with
It’s a great case of the City leading    85 Australian councils representing
by example to take action on             7.4 million people. As we plan the
accelerating global warming.             next four years of action, we need
In that time, we’ve worked to reduce     to collaborate more closely - with
the impact of our operations,            councils, all levels of government
buildings, people and transport          and business. We will increase our
on our local area and beyond.            focus on addressing the impacts
Organisationally, we’re now proudly      of climate change on vulnerable
powered by 100 per cent renewable        communities and collaborate with
electricity, we’ve set up water reuse    our First Nations’ communities to
schemes in multiple parks, and           care for Country.
increased recycling in our buildings     The Covid and climate crises
by more than 40 per cent.                have affected our economies and
Similarly, we’re working to improve      communities. The actions we need
the environmental performance            to take to combat the former and
of our local government area.            to protect the latter are closely
We’ve planted more than 15,000           aligned. The pandemic has shown
trees since 2005, given 11,000           us that swift action is possible. It
households access to a food scraps       has also shown us that by aligning
collection service, and worked with      actions globally – underpinning
the Better Buildings Partnership, City   global decision-making with the
Switch and Sustainable Destinations      goal of protecting both people and
Partnership. Across the local area,      planet – we create opportunities for
emissions have been reduced              a sustainable economic future.
by 22 per cent.

                                         Clover Moore
                                         Lord Mayor

5 | Message from the Lord Mayor
Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Caring for Country

For thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait     By drawing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Islander people lived sustainably on the land we now     peoples’ experience and knowledge there is an
call Sydney. It was part of their Lore, the coming       opportunity for all of us in the community to integrate
together of ecology and religion. It provided rules on   those perspectives in urban policies. Integration in
how to interact with the land and community. Every       policy areas of land use planning, design and natural
generation had to understand how to maintain this.       resource management can encourage sustainable
                                                         practices and reduce socio-spatial disadvantage
However, since 1788, the landscape dramatically          which is primarily driven by the market and not just
changed due to the built environment and                 a result of government policies.
expansive urban development. This resulted in the
breakdown of the natural ecological systems and          Sustainable land management is the use of land
the loss of traditional and sustainable forms of land    to meet changing human needs while ensuring
management.                                              long-term socioeconomic and ecological functions
                                                         of the land.
Today, as we face the challenge of climate change
and pandemics, there is the urgent need to review        Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people believe
our relationship with the land and how we face those     that there is a balance in everything and that is
challenges.                                              the challenge for every one of us to identify and
                                                         understand. What does the balance actually look like
Community consultation to inform The City of             and how do we achieve it?
Sydney’s Sustainable Sydney 2050 plan, shows
overwhelmingly that the wider community wants a          The Environmental Strategy 2021 – 2025 is an
response to climate change and at the First Peoples      opportunity for us as a community to rise to the
of Australia Dialogue Forum in 2019, participants        challenges ahead of us and to reach a balance
stated that ‘Sustainability, carbon neutrality, water    in the way we live.
positive and global warming action’ were priority
aspirations for Sydney’s future.                         Sydney is an amazing place to live, play and work.
                                                         We want to make sure that future generations can
The City’s Environmental Strategy 2021-2025              enjoy it too.
responds to those community concerns but we must
make sure that this is a living document and that        Cathy Craigie
actions are implemented.
                                                         Writer, Gamilarray woman and
The priorities and concerns of the community are         City of Sydney resident
in sync with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples’ perspectives. ‘Caring for Country’ means        Image: Bangala, a public artwork by Jonathan Jones and Aboriginal
to participate in activities on land and in water with   Elder Aunty Julie Freeman, is at Green Square’s Gunyama Park Aquatic
the objective of sustaining ecological, spiritual and    and Recreational Centre. The work provides close links to the area’s
                                                         history and traditional culture and represents Eora bark water carriers.
human health.                                            Photographer: Silversalt Photography
Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Executive summary
                                                                           This Strategy has four directions and 23 actions, and
The world is heating up – and it’s                                         outlines the most important measures to help make
                                                                           Sydney a sustainable and resilient city. Key operational
happening faster in Australia.                                             measures include phasing out natural gas from our
                                                                           operations, and using alternative water sources to keep
The Paris Agreement aims to halt                                           our parks green. We will also look for opportunities to
warming to 1.5°C or well within 2°C                                        reduce embodied carbon in our supply chain, electrify
                                                                           our fleet, and support the growth of a circular economy.
above pre-industrial levels. But
                                                                           The City is committed to growing the number of net
the world is already close to 1.2°C                                        zero emissions buildings. We have advocated for better
above pre-industrial levels, and the                                       performance standards for new buildings; now we
                                                                           will focus on opportunities to make existing buildings
speed of heating is accelerating.1                                         more energy- and water-efficient, with improved waste
Climate change will increase the scale and frequency                       management.
of extreme weather events, and it will affect the health                   Transport is a major source of air pollution. In 2017–18,
of people – and of the natural and built environment                       the sector contributed 16 per cent of emissions in
– as well as the liveability of the city. Infrastructure for               Sydney. The City can’t control many aspects of transport,
energy, water, transport, telecommunications and food                      which is overseen by the NSW Government, but we can
production will come under increasing pressure.                            advocate for more walking, cycling and public transport,
Cities contribute to climate change. According to                          and for the transition to zero emissions fuel sources.
UN Habitat, they consume 78 per cent of the world’s                        We will also continue to work on initiatives that mitigate
energy.2 So inaction comes at a high price, motivating                     the urban heat island effect, improve air quality and
the City of Sydney to want to be a global leader in                        contribute to a water-sensitive city that protects
tackling the environmental and economic effects of                         biodiversity, green spaces and waterways. Our Draft
climate change.                                                            Greening Sydney Strategy outlines how we will work
We have already worked hard to develop sophisticated                       towards increasing overall green cover to 40 per cent of
strategies with ambitious targets to make our city                         the local area, including at least 27 per cent tree canopy,
resilient; protect our residents, workers, visitors and                    by 2050.
businesses; and restore the natural environment. We are                    We must act urgently to create a city that is more
making strong progress toward our targets of reducing                      resilient, inclusive and regenerative.
carbon emissions in the local area by 70 per cent by
2030 and getting to net zero emissions by 2035.
Our operational achievements include improving our
energy and water efficiency and waste management,
making deep cuts in our operational emissions, and
expanding the sustainability of our transport fleet. We
have also contributed to green measures for our local
area, ranging from helping to reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions, to allocating $3.8 million in
environmental grants since 2016.

1 http://www.climaterealitycheck.net/
2 https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-solutions/cities-pollution

7 | Executive summary
Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Direction 2
    Direction 1
                                                              Efficient, future-proof buildings
    Smart and resilient
                                                              and transport powered
    City operations
                                                              by renewable energy

1    Deliver energy, water and resilience outcomes        8      Improve energy efficiency, water efficiency and
     through City asset design and management                    waste management in existing buildings

2    Keep City parks green with water efficiency and      9      Drive all new buildings to be resource-efficient
                                                                 and net zero energy
     alternate water sources
                                                          10     Support the transition to zero-emissions
3    Regenerate the environment through the City’s
     carbon-neutral commitment
                                                                 transport

                                                          11     Encourage community uptake of renewable
                                                                 electricity and stimulate the green economy
4    Ensure the City’s programs and services use
     resources efficiently
                                                          12     Support our residents to reduce utility costs and
                                                                 environmental impact
5    Reduce the amount of operational waste sent to
     landfill through avoidance and resource recovery     13     Help businesses to reduce utility bills and
                                                                 demonstrate environmental achievement
6    Reduce embodied carbon in our supply chain and
     support circular economy outcomes

7    Manage environmental risks and issues

    Direction 3                                               Direction 4
    Regenerative and                                          Strong foundations
    inclusive city                                            for delivery

14      Incorporate the perspectives of Aboriginal        21     Build staff capability to deliver environmental
                                                                 outcomes
        and Torres Strait Islander people in
        environmental action
                                                          22     Deliver high-quality internal and external
15      Address equity issues related to climate change          environmental reporting and communications

16      Build community resilience and momentum
                                                          23     Employ efficient and effective decision-making
        on climate action                                        processes
17      Support the development of circular economy
        systems

18      Drought-proof the city by facilitating water
        recycling

19      Regenerate polluted waterways, air and land

20      Reduce the amount of residential waste sent
        to landfill through avoidance and resource
        recovery

                                                                 City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 8
Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Our achievements
since 2016
                                           City operations

                        Reduced emissions by estimated

                           76%
                                          including 31 per cent through
                                          energy efficiency and on-site
                                          solar

                                                                           100%
                                                                            renewable electricity
                                                                            from July 2020

                             Installed a grid-scale battery at our
                             Alexandra Canal depot in 2018
    Installed                                  Composted 7 tonnes
    2MW of onsite solar                        of food waste a month
    photovoltaic panels                        from City properties        City fleet has
    on our properties
                                                                           19 electric cars,
                                                                           40 hybrid cars,
                                                                           70 hybrid trucks and
                          Set up water reuse schemes                       one fully electric truck
                          in twenty parks, providing
                          80,000 litres of non-
                          potable water per day
                          in summer
                                                          Established a precinct-scale recycled
                                                          water scheme at Green Square
        Increased recycling in our
     buildings from 28 per cent in
      2018 to 42 per cent in 2020

                  Introduced guidelines for
                  reducing single-use items
                                                     Developed Sustainable
                  to help staff and event                                         Introduced a
                                                     Design Technical
                  managers avoid waste and                                        Sustainable
                                                     Guidelines for our assets
                  increase recycling                                              Procurement
                                                                                  Policy

9 | Our achievements since 2016
Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Local Area

                 Emissions reduced by
                                                                    Worked with NSW
                                                                    Government to install an air
                   22%               to June
                                     2019
                                                                    quality monitoring station

          Over                        Owners corporations in 172 apartment

    3,000
                                      buildings saved over $4 million reducing emissions
                                      by 20,000t and water by 697ML
    street lights
    converted to LED

                            75%
                                                                 Signed up more than
Established the                                 zero             30 leaders from the
                                                                 hospitality, events
Sustainable Destination
Partnership, which has      of Better Buildings Partnership      and property sectors

           46
                            members committed to net             to the Sydney
                            zero emissions                       single-use pledge

          members           Advocated for a National Australian Built
                            Environment Rating System (NABERS)
                            tool for apartment buildings, with

                            89       buildings rated

                                               Installed

                                               10.19
Laid a recycled water
                                                                                  11,000
pipeline in George
                                                                 kms              households have
Street in the city centre
                                               of separated cycleways             access to a food
                                                                                  scraps collection
                                                                                  service

   e
             Made e-waste                                  Allocated over
             recycling collections                         $3.8 million in
             available to all                              environmental
             residents                                     grants

                        Increased canopy cover from
Created                 15.5% in 2008 to 19.2% in 2020

11.5ha
of new green space since 2009
                                         Achieved 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating for
                                                              the Green Square town centre

                                                              Established Sydney City Farm

Planted 15,052 street trees since 2005

                                                       City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 10
Environmental Strategy 2021 - 2025 (Draft) - May 2021 Green Global Connected - City of Sydney
Our targets
City operations
              Targets                                                       Latest Data
              Targets                                                        Latest data

                                                         Carbon
  80% reduction in emissions generation by end June         31% reduction (June 2020)
  2025, from 2006 baseline                                  Estimated 76% reduction by June 2021
  Maintain emissions from the City's fleet below 2014
  levels, and aim to achieve zero fleet emissions           40% reduction (June 2020)
  by 2035 or sooner
                                                         Water
  Zero increase in potable water use annually until 2025,
                                                            4% reduction (June 2020)
  from 2006 baseline
                                                         Waste
  90% diversion from landfill, with 50% source separated
                                                            92% landfill diversion (September 2020)
  recycling, from City-managed properties by end
                                                            42% recycling (December 2020)
  June 2025

  15% reduction in total waste generated from City-
  managed properties by end of June 2025, from              945 tonnes (2019 baseline)
  2019 baseline

  70% resource recovery of waste from office strip out
                                                            Data not yet available
  and fit out by end of June 2025 4

  90% resource recovery of construction and demolition
  waste generated and managed by City operations            89% (June 2020)
  by end June 2025

  50% resource recovery of waste from City parks,
                                                            46% (June 2020)
  streets and public places by end June 2025

                                                                               4     This is a new target and data is not yet
                                                                                     available. The City will establish a measurement
                                                                                     process later in 2021

11 | Our targets
Local area
                                Targets                                                                         Latest
                                                                                                                 LatestData
                                                                                                                        data

                                                                              Carbon
    70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030,
    from 2006 baseline
                                                                                      22% reduction (June 2019)
    Net zero emissions by 2035
    50% of electricity demand met by renewable sources
                                                                                      17.7% (NSW average, December 2020)
    by 2030 5
                                                                               Water
    Reduce residential potable water use to 170 litres per
                                                                                      223 litres/person/day (June 2019)
    person per day by 2030
    10% reduction in non-residential potable water use per
                                                                                      2.32 litres/sqm/day (June 2019)
    m2 by 2030, from 2019 baseline
    50% reduction in the annual solid pollution load
                                                                                      Data not yet available
    discharged to waterways via stormwater by 2030 6
    15% reduction in the annual nutrient load discharged
                                                                                      Data not yet available
    to waterways via stormwater by 2030 7
                                                                             Greening
    Increase overall green cover to 40% across the local                              33% green cover (2020)
    area, including 27% tree canopy by 2050                                           19.2% tree canopy (2020)
                                                                               Waste
    90% diversion from landfill of residential waste, with                            45% diversion, 27% source-separated recycling
    35% as source-separated recycling by 2030                                         (June 2020)
    90% diversion from landfill of commercial and
                                                                                      56% diversion (estimate, June 2016)
    industrial waste by 2030 8
    90% diversion from landfill of construction and
                                                                                      77% diversion (NSW average, June 2018)
    demolition waste by 2030 9
    15% reduction in residential waste generation per
                                                                                      12% per capita reduction in waste since 2015 (June)
    capita by 2030, from a 2015 baseline

5   Comprehensive data on renewable electricity          8   The City does not have jurisdiction over            9   The City does not have jurisdiction over
    use for our local area is not available. Therefore       commercial and industrial waste collection.             construction and demolition waste collection.
    the City uses data from OpenNEM that                     Data on landfill diversion rates for commercial         Data on landfill diversion rates for construction
    measures the average amount of renewable                 and industrial waste is not available at a local        and demolition waste is not available at a local
    electricity in the NSW grid.                             area level. In 2016 the City undertook a survey         area level. Therefore the City uses the NSW
6   The City anticipates it will be able to report           to establish an estimated landfill diversion            average landfill diversion figure for this waste
    against this target later in 2021.                       figure. The City will repeat this survey in 2021        stream, supplied by the EPA.
7   The City anticipates it will be able to report           to enable an updated figure to be reported.
    against this target later in 2021.

                                                                                              City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 12
Why we need to act
                                        Climate change is projected
                                        to increase the magnitude and
A heating planet                        frequency of extreme weather
Signatories to the Paris Agreement      events. These will affect urban
have agreed to halt warming to          infrastructure systems for energy,
1.5°C or well below 2°C above pre-      transportation, telecommunications,
industrial levels. Yet global heating   water and wastewater, solid waste
is already approaching 1.2°C above      and food production. 16
pre-industrial levels 10 and it is      In January 2021, the Climate Targets
accelerating.                           Panel, an independent group of
The Intergovernmental Panel on          Australia’s most senior climate
Climate Change 11 says that to limit    scientists and policymakers, said
global warming to 1.5°C global          in a report that to comply with its
emissions must be 45 per cent lower     commitment to reduce warming by
than 2005 levels by 2030. To date,      2°C, Australia would need to reduce
commitments by countries around         its emissions to 74 per cent below
the world are nowhere close to being    2005 levels by 2030, and reach
on track to limit global heating.       net zero emissions by 2045. 17 To
                                        achieve a 1.5°C target, it would need
Global heating is occurring faster      to cut emissions by 74 per cent by
in Australia, where the average         2030 and reach net zero emissions
surface air temperature has already     by 2035.
increased by more than 1.4°C
since 1910. 12 The CSIRO/Bureau         Australia’s emissions fell 4.4 per
of Meteorology State of the Climate     cent in the year to September
2020 report identified 2019 as          2020, due to the continued rise in
Australia’s hottest year on record –    renewable electricity production
and this would be an average year       and the impact of COVID-19
in a 1.5°C warmer world. 13 High        restrictions.18 However, Australia
temperatures exacerbated the Black      needs to increase its annual
Summer bushfires and widespread         emissions reductions.
drought 14.                             For this reason, the City of Sydney     Images (Above): Storm in Sydney 2020.
The Bureau of Meteorology               joins international leaders, the        © City of Sydney. (Below): George Street during
                                        scientific community, major             the black summer bushfires in 2019.
recently gave evidence to the                                                   © VirtualWolf
Senate Standing Committee on the        business groups, and all state and      10 http://www.climaterealitycheck.net/
Environment and Energy that shows       territory governments in setting and    11 https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/
Australia is on track for 4.4°C of      working towards a net-zero target.      12 https://www.climatechangeinaustralia. gov.
                                                                                    au/en/changing-climate/climate-trends/
warming this century.15 This would                                                  australian-trends/
be catastrophic for our health,                                                 13 http://www.bom.gov.au/state-of-the-climate/
economy and environment. Many                                                   14 https://theconversation.com/yes-australia-
areas would be unliveable and mass                                                  is-a-land-of-flooding-rains-but-climate-change-
extinctions would take place.                                                       could-be-making-it-worse-157586
                                                                                15 https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_
                                                                                    Business/Hansard/Hansard_
                                                                                    Display?bid=committees/commrep/5ca35f98-
                                                                                    9c86-4d68-bd04-327e34cfef3e/&sid=0002
                                                                                16 https://resourcecentre.c40.org/resources/
                                                                                    assessing-risks-in-cities
                                                                                17 https://www.climatecollege.unimelb.edu.au/
                                                                                    australias-paris-agreement-pathways
                                                                                18 https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-
                                                                                    publications/national-greenhouse-gas-
                                                                                    inventory-quarterly-updates

13 | Why we need to act
Business responses                      Recognition of climate risk
The cost of inaction                      The Australian Prudential Regulation    To help investors make informed
                                          Authority (APRA) has been advising      decisions about which companies
and climate risk                          large financial institutions about      will endure and prosper as the
                                          the financial risks posed by climate    climate changes, the Financial
The economic benefits of emissions
                                          change and the possibility of future    Stability Board established the Task
reduction far outweigh the costs of
                                          lawsuits if no action is taken. 22      Force on Climate-related Financial
extreme weather events if nothing
                                                                                  Disclosures (TCFD). 25 This requires
is done.                                  According to APRA, banks and            companies to incorporate climate-
A Climate Council report states that      insurers are preparing for worsening    related risks and opportunities into
extreme weather events have cost          bushfire seasons and more extreme       their risk management and strategic
Australia $35 billion over the past       weather events. 23 This will push up    planning processes.
decade, which is double the cost in       the cost of insurance premiums
                                          and lead to millions of people being    At November 2020, 58 of Australia’s
the 1970s. 19 By 2038, these events,
                                          uninsured, with resulting pressure on   top 100 companies were following
as well as the impacts of rising sea
                                          the financial system.                   the TCFD and 78 per cent of
levels, could cost the Australian
                                                                                  S&P/ASX 100 companies had
economy $100 billion every year.          In response, institutions are moving    acknowledged climate change as a
The University of Melbourne recently      away from investing in or lending       financial risk to their business. 26
estimated that not meeting the Paris      to climate-damaging projects
Accord target from now to 2050            and shifting towards technologies
could cost Australia $1.19 trillion. 20   for efficient and clean energy,
This is due to infrastructure damage      sustainable farming and carbon
($611 billion from lost property          drawdown - processes that draw
values), agricultural and labour          carbon out of the atmosphere and
productivity losses ($211 billion),       lock it away such as in soils.
and the effects on biodiversity and       To date, more than 135 globally
human health ($368 billion).              significant banks – including
Sixty of the world’s central banks,       Australia’s Big Four – and insurers
including the Reserve Bank of             have announced they will divest from
Australia, have warned that without       coal mining and/or coal-fired power
action on climate change, global          plants. 24
gross domestic product (GDP) could
fall by 25 per cent by 2100.21 This                                               19 https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/
would be reduced to 4 per cent if                                                    hitting-home-compounding-costs-climate-
                                                                                     inaction/
global heating is limited to 2°C.
                                                                                  20 https://sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/news/what-
                                                                                     are-the-full-economic-costs-to-australia-from-
                                                                                     climate-change
                                                                                  21 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-
                                                                                     news/2020/jun/26/reserve-bank-warns-of-25-
                                                                                     gdp-loss-by-2100-unless-action-taken-on-
                                                                                     climate-change
                                                                                  22 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-
                                                                                     news/2021/mar/02/climate-change-could-put-
                                                                                     insurance-out-of-reach-for-many-australians
                                                                                  23 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-
                                                                                     news/2021/mar/02/climate-change-could-put-
                                                                                     insurance-out-of-reach-for-many-australians
                                                                                  24 https://ieefa.org/finance-exiting-coal/
                                                                                  25 https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/about/
                                                                                  26 https://home.kpmg/au/en/home/media/press-
                                                                                     releases/2020/11/asx100-companies-ahead-of-
                                                                                     global-firms-in-acknowledging-climate-risks-20-
                                                                                     november-2020.html

                                                                     City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 14
Green recovery – the                    pandemics. 27 This has the potential
                                        to boost economic activity, generate
benefits of action                      income, create jobs and reduce
                                        inequalities.
Around the world, cities have been
at the forefront of responding to the   ClimateWorks Australia’s
COVID-19 crisis. Measures to help       Decarbonisation Futures report found
economies and communities recover       that if governments directed stimulus
from the pandemic focus on building     spending to climate solutions,
an equitable and sustainable ‘new       Australians could use available
normal’. This means being able          technologies to reach net zero
to contain future pandemics, and        emissions by 2035. 28
addressing the immediate and
longer-term impacts of climate          Examples include photovoltaic
change on our economies,                technology for homes and
ecosystems and populations.             commercial buildings; large-scale
                                        renewable energy and storage;
A green recovery embeds a               electric vehicle charging; recycling
sustainable vision for business, for    in supply chains; and planting and
equity across our populations, and      protecting trees to sequester carbon.
for greener, healthier living spaces.                                           Image: Sydney park wetlands. © City of Sydney
                                        This would also create more jobs.       27 http://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/en/themes/
As outlined by the Organisation         Every $10 million invested in the          green-recovery
for Economic Co-operation and           renewable energy sector creates         28 https://www.climateworksaustralia.org/
                                                                                   resource/decarbonisation-futures-solutions-
Development, cleaner air, healthier     75 jobs, and energy efficiency 77          actions-and-benchmarks-for-a-net-zero-
water, effective waste management       jobs, compared to 27 jobs for every        emissions-australia/
and enhanced biodiversity               $10 million invested in fossil fuel     29 https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/
protection help make communities                                                   coronavirus-leading-through-the-crisis/
                                        industries. 29                             charting-the-path-to-the-next-normal/can-a-
more resilient and less vulnerable to                                              low-carbon-recovery-agenda-create-jobs-and-
                                                                                   help-the-economy

15 | Why we need to act
As a centre for finance, investment,
insurance and innovation, Sydney
                                           The role of cities                       C40 Cities
                                                                                    The City of Sydney is part of C40
is well placed to support a green          Cities are major contributors to         Cities, a network of 97 megacities,
recovery by providing capital,             climate change. According to UN-         representing more than 700
knowledge and services to                  Habitat, cities consume 78 per cent      million (one in 12) of the world’s
renewable new industries. The NSW          of the world’s energy. 31 C40 Cities     citizens and a quarter of the global
Government wants to establish              has calculated that urban areas          economy. C40 Cities members
Sydney as a world-leading carbon           produce more than 70 per cent of         collaborate, share knowledge and
services hub by 2030, as part of the       GHG emissions. 32                        drive meaningful, measurable
state’s Net Zero Plan. 30                                                           and sustainable action on climate
                                           However, cities also have a vital
The City has called on the NSW and         role in managing climate change.         change.
Australian governments to establish        Individually and collectively, cities    The City’s Environmental Strategy
a ‘just transition’ authority, to secure   can drive change, influence future       2021-2025 delivers on a C40 Cities
workers’ rights and livelihoods by         policy and demonstrate the power         requirement to develop an inclusive
diversifying jobs and investing in         of collaboration for communities         and equitable climate action plan
communities that depend on fossil          and governments, addressing the          that meets the aims of the Paris
fuels. Government investment is            impacts of climate change globally.      Agreement and commits to a green
needed to develop new industries                                                    recovery from COVID-19.
and employment opportunities in
communities that will be affected by
decarbonisation.
                                                                                    Image: The Sydney CBD viewed from Pyrmont.
                                                                                    © City of Sydney
                                                                                    30 https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/
                                                                                       climate-change/net-zero-plan
                                                                                    31 https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-
                                                                                       solutions/cities-pollution
                                                                                    32 https://www.c40.org/ending-climate-change-
                                                                                       begins-in-the-city

                                                                      City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 16
What we heard from                       Many participants want more
                                         education programs and initiatives
                                                                                  The jury envisioned the city as
                                                                                  a leader in reversing climate
the community                            that encourage people to reduce          change and restoring the natural
                                         their waste, and for the City to use     environment. It wants space to
Our extensive community
                                         new technologies to manage waste         be maximised for the greater
engagement work to inform
                                         and recycling more efficiently.          community good (such as more
Sustainable Sydney 2050 revealed
                                                                                  spaces for trees and less for cars);
an overwhelming desire for a             Business owners acknowledge              buildings to be made of materials
response to climate change. 33           that a sustainable environment is        that support the environment, not
                                         essential for the City’s future and      degrade it; and people to transform
It is an important issue for people of
                                         are already preparing for changing       their waste into materials that feed
all ages, genders, nationalities and
                                         consumer behaviours.                     back into the economy.
socio-economic groups. In an online
survey, 86 per cent of respondents
                                         Citizens’ jury                           The jury produced a vision for
agreed that the City should invest
                                                                                  Sydney that bridges the past to the
in and advocate for addressing           In August 2019, a citizens’ jury of
                                                                                  future. 34 It concluded by saying:
climate change. How we manage            43 randomly selected Sydneysiders
                                                                                  “Our hope for Sydney in 2050 is that
our environment and climate change       came together over three months
                                                                                  it is a sustainable, inclusive, diverse
is a top priority for high school and    to imagine the city in 30 years’ time.
                                                                                  city that is welcoming and embraces
primary school students, who want        Those who were living in Sydney
                                                                                  people from all walks of life. A city
their voices heard because Sydney        30 years ago recognised that it has
                                                                                  where people want to live.”
in 2050 is their future.                 changed dramatically in that time
                                         and will continue to change over the     Image: The City hosted summits with children and
Residents at community sessions          next three decades.                      young people as part of planning for Sydney 2050.
emphasised that they wanted                                                       © City of Sydney
better waste management, with                                                     33 https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/-/media/
more recycling, reuse and waste                                                      corporate/files/2020-07-migrated/files_f/final-
                                                                                     community-insights-low-rez-web.pdf
reduction, especially of plastic.
                                                                                  34 https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/-/media/
                                                                                     corporate/files/2020-07-migrated/files_c/
                                                                                     citizens-jury-concepts-report.pdf

17 | Why we need to act
City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 18
01

Smart and
resilient City
operations  I
Reducing our footprint
  The City has worked on                                                   incumbent on us to reduce
  minimising our environmental                                             our own environmental
  footprint for more than a                                                footprint, it is by seeking
  decade. This has involved                                                transformative environmental
  introducing programs to                                                  performance that we also
  save water and energy,                                                   positively influence change in
  and minimise waste. Where                                                the operations of our service
  possible, we have also                                                   providers, businesses and
  switched to renewable                                                    communities and establish
  power sources to reduce                                                  Sydney as a global exemplar
  our emissions. While it is                                               in environmental performance.

                                                                           The City has been certified as a                                     Better monitoring of energy
                                                                           carbon-neutral organisation under                                    consumption and other utilities in
  A net-zero organisation                                                  the Australian Government’s Climate                                  our properties and parks has also
  At June 2020, efficiency projects                                        Active program since 2011. We                                        led to better detection and response
  and generation of renewable                                              achieved energy savings through                                      times when problems are detected.
  electricity on our properties had                                        significant projects like our Major
                                                                           Properties Efficiency Project to                                     In July 2020, the City began a
  reduced the City’s operational                                                                                                                10-year 100 per cent renewable
  emissions to 31 per cent below                                           improve lighting, heating and
                                                                           cooling systems.                                                     electricity contract for power
  2006 levels. From July 2020, we                                                                                                               from the Sapphire Wind Farm in
  began using 100 per cent renewable                                       We have been working with Ausgrid                                    New England, the Bomen Solar
  electricity sources, and we expect                                       to install LED street lights, which                                  Farm near Wagga Wagga and
  our emissions to drop to more than                                       improve lighting quality and reduce                                  the community-owned Repower
  76 per cent below 2006 levels by the                                     energy consumption and bills.                                        Shoalhaven solar farm. This will
  end of June 2021.                                                        Installation is due to be completed                                  reduce our annual emissions by
                                                                           in 2022.                                                             around 24,000 tonnes initially, based
                                                                                                                                                on 2019–20 levels.

  Chart 1: Operational emissions history
                  60,000

                  50,000
Tonnes C02 e pa

                  40,000

                  30,000
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Target:
                  20,000                                                                                                                                                                           80%
                                                                                                                                                                                                   reduction
                                                                                                                                                                                                   by June
                  10,000                                                                                                                                                                           2025
                                                                                                                                                                                        estimate

                      0
                                 6

                                         7

                                                    8

                                                              191

                                                                      0

                                                                               1

                                                                                             2

                                                                                                        53

                                                                                                              -14

                                                                                                                             75

                                                                                                                                      6

                                                                                                                                                 97

                                                                                                                                                       -18

                                                                                                                                                                   9

                                                                                                                                                                              0

                                                                                                                                                                                    1
                              5-0

                                      6-0

                                                 7-0

                                                            0-0

                                                                     9-1

                                                                               0-1

                                                                                         1-1

                                                                                                     2-1

                                                                                                                          4-1

                                                                                                                                   5-1

                                                                                                                                              6-1

                                                                                                                                                                8-1

                                                                                                                                                                           9-2

                                                                                                                                                                                   0-2
                                                          18

                                                                                                    4

                                                                                                                3

                                                                                                                          6

                                                                                                                                              8

                                                                                                                                                         7
                           200

                                     200

                                             200

                                                        200

                                                                    200

                                                                            201

                                                                                     201

                                                                                                 201

                                                                                                             201

                                                                                                                      201

                                                                                                                                  201

                                                                                                                                          201

                                                                                                                                                      201

                                                                                                                                                             201

                                                                                                                                                                       201

                                                                                                                                                                                  202

                              Buildings                             Street lighting                                 Parks                         Fleet                       Other

                                                                                                                         City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 20
At December 2020, the City had                 Since 2020, we have been buying          The City has made significant
installed over 2MW of onsite solar             nature-based offsets, which remove       emissions reductions through
PV panels on our properties. Onsite            carbon from the atmosphere.              energy efficiency and the use of
renewable electricity generation               In 2021, we sourced our offsets          renewable electricity. The next major
is important as it provides the                from a Tiwi Island traditional land      opportunity to meeting our corporate
energy directly where it is used,              management cultural burn project         target of 80 per cent reduction
avoiding system losses and the                 in northern Australia. This is an        in emissions generation by end
need for costly electricity network            important partnership that also          June 2025 on 2006 levels will be to
infrastructure. Also, it pays for itself       delivers toward the City’s Aboriginal    procure renewable gas.
by saving on energy bills.                     and Torres Strait Islander economic
                                               development plan. The City will also     Renewable gas can be generated
The City has also installed over 2MW           continue to purchase carbon offsets      from composted food or the
of trigeneration and cogeneration,             to remain a certified Carbon Neutral     nutrients in wastewater, through an
reducing grid electricity demand               organisation under the Climate           anaerobic digestion facility. Gas is
by around 6,000 MWh a year,                    Active program with an increasing        then injected back into the gas grid
avoiding 5,340 tCO2e of grid                   share of higher quality, nature-         to supply home and business gas
electricity emissions.                         based carbon offsets.                    needs, as natural gas does, but
                                                                                        with a much lower carbon footprint.
In partnership with the transmission           Over the next four years the City will   There is an emerging renewable gas
operator TransGrid, we have also               focus on leveraging its investment in    market in NSW. An accreditation
installed a grid-scale battery at our          efficiency measures, management          scheme will need to be established
Alexandra Canal Depot, which in                systems and low emissions                to enable gas customers, like the
conjunction with 1665 rooftop solar            technology.                              City, to purchase renewable gas
panels enables the site to generate                                                     credits, in a similar way to how
more electricity than it consumes.                                                      renewable electricity from off-site
We have also been transitioning                                                         sources is procured.
to electric and hybrid vehicles,
and have introduced eco-driving
strategies.
                                                                                        Image: © Bomen solar farm

City of Sydney goes 100 per cent renewable

                                                The City of Sydney began using 100 per cent renewables to meet its grid
                                                electricity needs in July 2020. The renewables commitment will see the
                                                City’s operations initially saving around 24,000 tonnes a year – equivalent
                                                to the power consumption of around 4,000 households.
                                                The City’s 2019–20 emissions were 31 per cent below our 2006 baseline,
                                                and our 2020–21 emissions are expected to be around 76 per cent below
                                                2006 levels by using 100 per cent renewable electricity. Using 100 per
                                                cent renewable electricity is essential to achieve our commitment to
                                                reduce organisational emissions by 80 per cent.
                                                The City purchases renewable power from Sapphire Wind Farm in the
                                                New England area, Bomen Solar Farm near Wagga Wagga, and the
                                                community-owned Repower Shoalhaven solar farm.
                                                The shift to renewable energy in the broader electricity sector is
                                                happening much faster than anyone imagined as the cost of new
                                                renewable energy continues to fall. The NSW Government’s Electricity
                                                Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 now provides significant support to
                                                assist with the renewable energy transition.
                                                The City estimates it may save up to $500,000 a year in electricity costs
                                                by sourcing its grid electricity from a renewable energy provider.

21 | Direction 1: Smart and resilient City operations
This chart shows potential emissions                                 continue to purchase additional                                     Image (Left): An electric truck, part of the City of
                                                                                                                                         Sydney fleet. © City of Sydney. (Right): Tiwi Island
reductions from opportunities                                        high-quality carbon offsets to remain                               Carbon Project staff and Indigenous rangers.
identified by the City and may be                                    carbon neutral until renewable gas                                  © Aboriginal Carbon Foundation
subject to change. For example,                                      becomes available. Ultimately, the
if more energy efficiency is                                         mix of energy efficiency measures
deployed, the City would require                                     the City deploys will be based on
less renewable electricity, and                                      what is most feasible and cost-
vice versa. Likewise, the City will                                  effective.

Chart 2: Operational emissions to 2025
                  60,000                              31%

                  50,000
Tonnes C02 e pa

                                                                           7%                       6%
                  40,000                                                                                                    12%
                                                                                                                                                  36%
                  30,000

                  20,000
                                        Target: 80% reduction by June 2025
                                                                                                                                                                          9%
                  10,000                                                                                                                                                                    13%

                      0
                              6                                            e                                                                       y
                           200                sio
                                                 ns                     ng                        tin
                                                                                                     g
                                                                                                                         ncy                   icit                 gas                   set
                                                                                                                                                                                             s
                                            is                  io   cha                   tl igh                  fficie                 lectr              able                 Off
                                     9   Em                 fol                        ree                      de                   le e                new
                                  8/1                 Po
                                                        rt                         St                      na
                                                                                                              n                   ab                   Re
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                                                                                                                                                                               estimate

                                                                                                    ra                      Re
                                                                                              g ene
                                                                                         gy
                                                                                   ener
                                                                             -site
                                                                       On

                                                                                                                    City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 22
Water-sensitive                                Chart 3 shows the City’s operational
                                               water use since the baseline year of
operations                                     2016. In 2019-20 we exceeded our
                                               target for the first time in a decade.
The City aims to keep potable water
                                               Savings are due to the measures
use below 2006 levels, but this been
                                               described above, with a portion of
challenging because the area of
                                               savings also attributed to increased
parks and open spaces requiring
                                               rainfall and COVID-19 related
irrigation has since increased by
                                               closures of water intensive City sites
more than 50 per cent, and we have
                                               such as aquatic centres and public
also grown our property portfolio.
                                               buildings.
To help drought-proof our parks,
                                               The City has contributed to
we have implemented water
                                               minimising local flood risk
reuse schemes at twenty parks,
                                               and enhancing greening and
established a real-time irrigation
                                               urban cooling by retrofitting the
monitoring and control system,
                                               stormwater management network
embedded sustainability key
                                               with raingardens, wetlands, swales
performance indicators into our
                                               and traps that reduce stormwater
service contracts and optimised
                                               pollution.
performance of our water recycling
schemes, water features and
irrigation systems.
We are also installing water-
efficient fixtures and fittings in our
properties and training our staff and
contractors to make sure they are                                                       Image (Above): Most of Harold Park’s irrigation
                                                                                        needs are met by an extensive stormwater
proactively identifying, reporting and                                                  harvesting and treatment scheme.
fixing leaks.                                                                           © City of Sydney. (Below): © City of Sydney.

23 | Direction 1: Smart and resilient City operations
Chart 3: Operational water use history
                 600

                 500
                       Target: Zero increase in potable water use until 2025, from 2006

                 400
   Mega litres

                 300

                 200

                 100

                   0
                                           -08

                                                                                                                                                                            -20
                              6

                                      7

                                                        9

                                                                  0

                                                                             31

                                                                                         2

                                                                                                    53

                                                                                                                4

                                                                                                                        6-15
                                                                                                                           7

                                                                                                                                -16

                                                                                                                                             97

                                                                                                                                                          8

                                                                                                                                                                     9
                           5-0

                                   6-0

                                                    8-0

                                                               9-1

                                                                          0-1

                                                                                      1-1

                                                                                                 2-1

                                                                                                             3-1

                                                                                                                                          6-1

                                                                                                                                                      7-1

                                                                                                                                                                  8-1
                                             7

                                                                                                                                                                             9
                                                                         2

                                                                                                 4

                                                                                                                       4

                                                                                                                                  5

                                                                                                                                         8
                                          200

                                                                                                                                                                          201
                       200

                                  200

                                                 200

                                                            200

                                                                      201

                                                                                  201

                                                                                             201

                                                                                                         201

                                                                                                                    201

                                                                                                                               201

                                                                                                                                      201

                                                                                                                                                  201

                                                                                                                                                              201

                                                                                                         Community                                                       Parks & public
                          Aquatic facilities                Commercial buildings                                                      Operations
                                                                                                         buildings                                                       domain

                                                                                                                                  Image: Monitoring water reuse at Harold Park.
                                                                                                                                  © City of Sydney

                                                                                                             City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 24
Recycling from City-owned buildings
Reducing operational                           has increased from 28 per cent
                                               in 2018 to 42 per cent in 2020.
waste                                          We achieved this by introducing
                                               a separate food waste collection
We strive to show leadership in                service and improving our education
sustainability through our own                 programs. Garbage that previously
management of waste and resources.             went to landfill is now sent to a
As part of this effort, we created             processing facility where it is used
a digital platform to improve the              to create fuel that displaces coal in a
accuracy and transparency of data              local brick kiln.
on how we collect, report on and
verify recycling and landfill from our         In 2019, the City also pledged to
operations. This also helps us better          dramatically reduce single-use
monitor our performance against our            plastics by phasing out bottled
targets, and react more quickly to             water, straws, serveware, utensils
changes in waste types or volumes.             and cups at our buildings and
                                               venues, and at events in our area.

                                                                                         Image (Above): Battery, mobile phone and light
                                                                                         bulb recycling stations located at Green Square
                                                                                         Library, one of the City’s ten recycling stations.
                                                                                         © City of Sydney. (Below): Getty Images.

Paving the way to better glass recycling
                                              Around 14 per cent of glass collected from recycling bins during kerbside
                                              garbage collections can’t be recycled and is instead stockpiled or sent to
                                              landfill.
                                              To reduce the amount of materials going to landfill, the City supported
                                              and promoted the Paving the Way program, as a member of the South
                                              Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC). The program
                                              focuses on using glass fines (crushed glass) instead of virgin sand for
                                              building roads and footpaths. This will increase the amount of collected
                                              glass that can be recycled from 65 per cent to 79 per cent, the equivalent
                                              of nearly 100 million glass containers each year. This Sydney-based
                                              initiative also reduces the transport of glass interstate and provides long-
                                              term markets for what was previously considered a waste product.
                                              The program demonstrates collaboration on circular economy principles
                                              in procurement between local, regional and state governments. It is the
                                              first project under the Procure Recycled memorandum of understanding
                                              (MoU), signed by SSROC members in November 2019, to promote the
                                              procurement of recycled materials.

25 | Direction 1: Smart and resilient City operations
Climate resilience and
risk management
The effects of climate change –
such as increasing temperatures,
changing rainfall patterns, flooding
and rising sea levels – pose risks
for the City’s $5.3 billion portfolio of
assets. The cost of not proactively
managing these risks could be
extremely high, so the City is diligent
about ensuring climate resilience.
Managing risk begins with asset
design. The Sustainable Design
Technical Guidelines define the
sustainability requirements for all our
capital works and upgrade projects.
This tool addresses all aspects
of sustainability – from ecology to
energy intensity and construction
management practices.
We use our environmental
management system (EMS) to
comply with relevant legislation and
apply a risk based approach to
improve environmental processes.
The scope of the EMS includes
construction works, operations,
                                           Socially responsible                    The Commonwealth Bank
                                                                                   subsequently launched a similar
property management, depots,               investments                             product, with the City placing its first
libraries, community centres,                                                      investment in early 2020.
aquatic centres, parks, events, and        We avoid investments that are           At February 2021, the City held
the purchase of goods and services.        harmful to the environment and          $85 million across thirteen tranches
                                           work with financial institutions and    with Westpac’s Green Tailored
We are strengthening processes             investment advisors to investigate      deposit, $5 million in a Floating Rate
related to management of                   suitable products that support          Note (FRN) / Sustainability Bond
contaminated land, implementing            positive environmental performance      issued by Bank Australia and
the Sustainable Procurement Policy,        and meet our financial risk and         $95 million (sixteen tranches) in
piloting materials with low embodied       return outcomes. Following market       Climate Bond-certified Green Term
emissions in construction works and        feedback, including from the City       Deposits with the Commonwealth
developing climate risk assessments        of Sydney, Westpac developed a          Bank of Australia.
for projects. The City has also            new sustainable investment product
implemented staff sustainability           known as a Green Tailored Deposit.
training, focusing on the foundations      The City was the first council to
of environmental sustainability and        invest in Green Tailored Deposits,
embedding outcomes into work               in late 2018. These deposits are
processes and behaviour.                   associated with a defined pool
                                           of eligible assets which meet the
                                           Climate Bond Standard criteria
                                           including renewable energy, low
                                           carbon transport, low carbon
                                           intensity emitting buildings, waste
                                           and water products and are
                                           independently certified annually.

                                                                                   Image: Glebe Library © City of Sydney

                                                                     City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 26
Actions

Action 1                                       The City aims to phase out natural
                                               gas from our operations. We will
                                                                                       Keeping our city cool and resilient
                                                                                       against extreme weather events will
Deliver energy, water and                      develop a plan to electrify gas-using   become increasingly important, so
resilience outcomes through                    assets and in the interim we will       we will actively integrate climate risk
City asset design and                          seek to purchase renewable gas to       assessments into asset design and
management                                     provide all our gas needs by 2025.      management.
The City will continue to electrify            In the next four years, we will also
its fleet to achieve zero emissions            focus on continuously improving the
before 2035. We aim to trial an                sustainability performance of our       Action 2
electric version of most vehicle               properties. As part of this, we will    Keep City parks green with
and plant types while expanding                invest in metering and monitoring
                                                                                       water efficiency and alternate
our electric passenger fleet. Our              to address anomalies, which
                                                                                       water sources
ongoing driver behaviour program               can significantly improve energy
both improves safety and reduces               efficiency.                             The CBD recycled water scheme
emissions.                                                                             will provide non-potable water for
                                               The City will continue to improve       keeping parks green, as well as
We will continue to power many of              the Sustainable Design Technical        enabling City-owned and privately
our facilities with onsite renewable           Guidelines that define the              held buildings to connect to an
electricity. Building on the 2MW               sustainability requirements for our     alternate water source.
already installed, we will add solar to        capital works and upgrade projects.
new properties that present a strong           An update of the guidelines in 2021     We will investigate and implement
business case. Because local power             will streamline these requirements,     alternative water sources for priority
sources improve grid resilience, we            particularly for small works and        parks. Some of them could be
will install batteries on our properties       asset renewal programs and              connected to the CBD recycled
where this contributes to energy and           projects. Other codes and guides        water scheme while others will
cost savings.                                  will also be updated to embed           require individual solutions. In
                                               environmental requirements into         addition, the City will analyse
                                               asset design.                           irrigation data to set a new target
                                                                                       for parks irrigation, supported by
                                                                                       efficiency plans.
27 | Direction 1: Smart and resilient City operations
Action 3
Regenerate the environment
through the City’s carbon-
neutral commitment
The City is committed to maintaining
carbon-neutral operations in
perpetuity. Over the next four years,
we aim to transition away from
purchasing overseas offsets and
instead use 100 per cent high-
quality Australian regenerative
offsets. We will also work with other
offset purchasers and Indigenous
organisations to help strengthen the
local regenerative offset market and
support expansion of traditional land
management practices by providing
and selling nature-based Australian
carbon credit units.

Action 4
Ensure the City’s programs
and services use resources
efficiently
We will strengthen the environmental
performance of City-run events,
venue management, external events
                                         Action 6                                 Action 7
on City land and grant-funded            Reduce embodied carbon in                Effectively manage
projects, ensuring they align with our   our supply chain and support             environmental risk and issues
Environmental Sustainability Policy.     circular economy outcomes                The Environmental Management
                                         We will evaluate our supply chain for    System (EMS) is a vital tool for
                                         opportunities to reduce embodied         managing environmental risks
Action 5                                 emissions and deliver circular           associated with our operations
Reduce the amount of                     economy outcomes. Where those            and services. We will continue to
                                         opportunities are identified, the        implement the EMS to improve
operational waste sent to
                                         City can specify increased use           the processes for managing and
landfill through avoidance and
                                         of recycled content in major             monitoring capital works programs,
resource recovery                                                                 operational environmental impacts,
                                         contracts and collaborate with other
The City will collect more food          local governments to establish           and works on Council-owned
waste from our largest commercial        standards for sustainable content        contaminated land and provide
food service areas and our busiest       in procured products.                    relevant environmental controls
buildings. Increasing awareness                                                   training for staff.
among staff and visitors about
waste avoidance and what can be
recycled is another priority. We will
also improve resource recovery from
our own construction and demolition
projects and office strip-outs.
                                                                                  Image (Previous page): Solar panels on the roof at
                                                                                  Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre
                                                                                  © City of Sydney, Paul Patterson (This page):
                                                                                  Monitoring building efficiency © City of Sydney,
                                                                                  Jessica Lindsay

                                                                    City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 28
02

Efficient, future-
proof buildings and
transport powered
by renewable energy
                  I
Working together
Opportunities abound in
our local area to reduce
emissions and move to
a zero carbon economy
We partner with key commercial
sectors in our local area to facilitate
the transition to renewable energy
sources by building owners,
residents and commuters.
Through consistently providing up-
to-date information to the public,
establishing and facilitating business
and community programs, and
mechanisms such as environmental
grants and sponsorship programs
we influence environmental
resilience in decision making. In
addition, a dynamic entrepreneurial
sector harnesses opportunity for
a competitive, green economy
through innovative new technologies
and services, backed by a strong
professional services sector.
                                          Closer to home, the City has been       tools are developed and adopted
                                          working with developers, the NSW        voluntarily, there is potential to
Energy efficient                          Government and other local councils     introduce mandatory disclosure so
                                          to establish performance standards      that tenants and owners are better
buildings                                 for new buildings, including multi-     informed about the performance of
The move toward net-zero-                 unit residential and commercial         a building, especially when making
emissions buildings is gaining            buildings, shopping centres and         purchasing decisions. We also have
momentum, with key groups such            hotels. The standards cover energy      the Green Star sustainability rating
as the Australian Sustainable             efficiency, onsite renewable energy     and certification system. Under this
Built Environment Council, private        and offsite renewable energy            system, buildings must be net-zero
developers and the Property Council       recognised in the planning system.      (fully electric, fossil-fuel free and 100
of Australia making significant           Importantly, these standards are        per cent powered by renewables)
contributions.                            tailored to the Sydney climate          to achieve the highest possible 6
                                          and are designed to be used             Star rating.
The minimum energy performance            by other councils across
standards for new buildings and           metropolitan Sydney.                    New technologies are helping
major retrofits of existing buildings                                             more buildings meet their heating,
are defined in the National               New buildings are only part of the      cooling and cooking needs with
Construction Code. This is updated        story. The performance of existing      electricity rather than natural gas,
every three years, and the 2019           buildings presents the biggest          which is a fossil fuel. Our research
update demanded significantly             opportunity to reduce energy and        shows that any increase in the use
improved performance for new              emissions, improve the comfort          of natural gas would result in the
commercial buildings. The next            and resilience of occupants, and        city exceeding its carbon budget in
review will focus on residential          reduce costs.                           decades to come due to the long
buildings.                                Australia has the world-leading
                                          National Australian Built Environment   Image (Previous page): Fleetview building,
                                                                                  a participant of the Smart Green Apartments
                                          Rating System (NABERS) scheme,          program. © City of Sydney, Jessica Lindsay.
                                          which rates the performance of          (This page): Businesses in Sydney increasingly
                                          many building classes. As NABERS        choose GreenPower. © City of Sydney,
                                                                                  Jessica Lindsay

                                                                    City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 30
life of gas assets. The gas grid              We can help to reduce emissions               Energy Zones across the state. This
is likely to transition to renewable          from transport by partnering with the         is expected to deliver a NSW grid
energy sources more slowly than               Australian and NSW Governments.               that is 60 per cent renewable by
the rate of greening underway for             The NSW Government is already                 2030. 38
the electricity grid. This supports           committed to net zero emissions by
the case for electrification of new           2050 and is developing programs               Renewable energy from wind and
buildings. Existing buildings with            to accelerate the uptake of zero-             solar is now the cheapest form of
gas connections should procure                emissions technologies. It is best            new electricity generation in most
renewable gas as it becomes                   placed, for example, to facilitate            areas of the world. The International
available for the remaining life              the rollout of a network of electric          Energy Agency notes that “solar PV
of gas assets.                                vehicle charging stations.                    is consistently cheaper than new
                                                                                            coal- or gas-fired power plants in
                                              To achieve our net zero by 2035               most countries, and solar projects
                                              target, significant changes will be           now offer some of the lowest-cost
Reducing transport                            required to the transport system in           electricity ever seen”. 39
emissions                                     our city: reducing and eliminating
                                                                                            Australia has one of the highest
                                              emissions at the point source;
The transport sector produces                 speeding up the shift from private            rates of rooftop solar PV installations
emissions, through either petrol-             cars to walking, cycling and public           in the world. At June 2020, more
fuelled vehicles or electricity               transport; transitioning public               than 2.5 million units had been
generation to power transport                 transport and private vehicle fleets          installed, with a combined capacity
systems and vehicles. In Sydney               to zero-emissions fuel sources and            of almost 12 gigawatts – equivalent
– especially in the city centre –             supporting off-street charging for            to six small coal-fired power
poor air quality caused by vehicle            electric vehicles.                            stations.
emissions has been an issue for
                                                                                            But fewer buildings in the city have
decades.
                                                                                            rooftop solar due to their small roof
In 2017–18, the transport sector              Choosing renewable                            areas and height, and the complex
contributed 16 per cent of
Sydney’s carbon emissions,
                                              energy                                        decision-making in strata properties.
                                                                                            The City estimates that there is
which are increasing every year.              In the year to March 2021, the                approximately 400 megawatts of
As at September 2020, transport               National Energy Market delivered              potential rooftop solar capacity in
emissions accounted for 17.6 per              27.6 per cent renewable energy,               the local area. So far, 14 megawatts
cent of Australia’s total emissions 35.       with 6.8 per cent from rooftop                of rooftop solar has been installed,
                                              solar. 36 However, the NSW grid,              and at current installation rates, the
With a growing population, the City           which still relies on coal-fired power        City projects the local area will reach
is increasingly focused on the best           stations, delivered just 18.8 per cent        50 megawatts by 2030.
use of public space. This means a             renewable energy. About 5.7 per
shift is needed away from private                                                           Despite this, the number of
                                              cent of electricity consumption in
vehicles, which have high emissions                                                         significant installations is increasing,
                                              this state comes from rooftop solar.
and take up space, to modes of                                                              including on apartment buildings.
transport with lower emissions that           The Australian Energy Market                  In 2021, amendments to the Strata
need less space - public transport,           Operator (AEMO) has been                      Schemes Management Act 2015
walking and cycling. This also                modelling scenarios for the energy            (NSW) make it easier to install
reduces congestion and noise,                 transition currently underway.37              renewable energy in strata buildings,
improves air quality and leaves more          Its most ambitious scenario                   partly due to advocacy by the City.
space for greening.                           envisages a grid that is nearly 100
                                              per cent renewable by 2040. The
The City does not control many                next iteration of the AEMO plan,
aspects relating to transport                 to be released in 2022, will model
sector emissions or the uptake of             renewable energy generation in
                                                                                            35 https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-
                                                                                               publications/national-greenhouse-gas-
low- or zero-emissions vehicles.              excess of 100 per cent, to allow for             inventory-quarterly-updates
We are responsible for planning               renewable energy exports.                     36 https://opennem.org.au/energy/nem
and development; working with                                                               37 https://aemo.com.au/en/energy-systems/
residents and businesses to achieve           The NSW Government has                           major-publications/integrated-system-plan-isp
sustainability outcomes; and                  passed the Electricity Infrastructure         38 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-
                                                                                               news/2020/nov/09/nsw-unveils-32bn-
implementing changes to roads                 Investment Act 2020 and released                 renewable-energy-plan-with-focus-on-
(such as adding new cycleways) if             a roadmap to provide support and                 pumped-hydro
the NSW Government approves.                  investment certainty for Renewable            39 https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-
                                                                                               outlook-2020

31 | Direction 2: Efficient, future-proof buildings and transport powered by renewable energy
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