Towards a net zero and climate-resilient future

Towards a net zero and climate-resilient future

Climate change presents an unprecedented challenge, both globally and locally. As greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities such as burning fossil fuels for generating electricity, transport, and manufacturing, are the main cause of climate change, urgent climate action is required to stabilise the changing climate.

Our Climate Change Plan 2022-2032 outlines Council’s role in minimising its own GHG emissions and supporting the community to take climate action to mitigate and adapt to climate change by 2032.

Our overarching vision

By 2036, the City of Whittlesea is a net zero emissions municipality, and our communities, businesses, and environments are resilient to the changing climate. Our transition to net zero and climate resilience is collaborative, inclusive, and equitable.

The dual pillars below will enable Council to prioritise, resource, communicate, and evaluate our responses to climate change.

Pillar 1: Net Zero Emissions

Council is a net zero emissions organisation and supports the community to transition to net zero emissions by 2036.

Net Zero Council

Council has already committed to becoming a net zero emissions organisation by 2022 through its Zero Net Emissions Plan. Council will pave the way for strong climate action across the community, as it achieves its corporate emissions reduction goal 14 years ahead of the community-wide 2036 target.

Net Zero City

A calculation of our city’s science-based emissions reduction target has revealed that our city would need to reduce its emissions by 5.38 per cent each year to avoid catastrophic climate change and achieve net zero emissions by 2036. This target is aligned with the 1.5°C Paris temperature goal, reflective of the latest climate science and the most recent climate commitment momentum to keep 1.5°C alive.

Pillar 2: Climate Resilience

Our communities, businesses, and environments are resilient to the changing climate.

Climate resilient communities and businesses

We will enhance our city’s tree canopy cover to reduce the risk of extreme heat and make our open space cooler and safer during periods of extended heat. We will help communities and businesses to better understand and prepare for climate change impacts.

Climate resilient built environment and infrastructure

We will ensure that our built environment and infrastructure are designed, constructed, and maintained to support safe and healthy communities in a changing climate. We will collaborate with relevant partners to promote climate resilience of new precincts, growth areas and suburbs, and retrofitting of existing infrastructure and buildings.

Climate resilient natural environment and biodiversity

As a leading cause of the biodiversity crisis, climate change presents as a major threat to our city’s natural environment and ecosystems. Increasing climate resilience of our local natural environment and biodiversity also helps maintain clean air and water and improves physical and mental wellbeing. We will continue to deliver our tree, shrub and understory planting programs and land management actions for better conservation and biodiversity outcomes.

What you can do

We are making great strides in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, becoming climate ready and becoming leaders in clean, sustainable living at the City of Whittlesea. As a resident, you can take steps to reduce your impact on climate change too. Actions you can take include:

• Making your home or business more energy efficient
• Buying appliances with high energy efficiency star ratings
• Installing solar power which may involve utilising the state government solar rebate scheme
• Setting your air conditioner up by a degree, and turning your heater temperature down by a degree
• Choosing to walk, cycle or take public transport instead of using your car
• Composting your food scraps and utilising Council’s Food and Garden Waste Service 
• Bookmarking Council’s Living Green page to see what we are doing and how you can get involved
• Composting your food scraps and utilising Council’s Food and Garden Waste Service.

This graph shows the accumulative Greenhouse Gas emissions avoided by Council over the last seven years thanks to changes and activities across solar and batteries, street lighting and energy efficiency measures.

Council's greenhouse gas emissions reductions since 2010 (cumulative)