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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 targetsLocal 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 | 12Why 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 actBusiness 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 | 14Green 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 actAs 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 | 16What 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 actCity 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 | 20At 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 operationsThis 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
201 tio new
estimate
ra Re
g ene
gy
ener
-site
On
City of Sydney | Environmental Strategy 2021-2025 | 22Water-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 operationsChart 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 | 24Recycling 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 operationsClimate 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 | 26Actions
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 operationsAction 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 | 2802
Efficient, future-
proof buildings and
transport powered
by renewable energy
IWorking 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 | 30life 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 energyYou can also read
