We declared a climate emergency in December 2019.
Net Zero - Our Map to Net Zero Corporate Emissions details targets and actions we will take to reach net zero emissions and mitigate climate change.
Net Zero will be achieved by changing our practices to reduce our emissions, procuring 100% renewable electricity and where necessary purchasing carbon offsets.
Net Zero includes the following focus areas and targets:
Buildings, lighting and open space
- Net zero carbon buildings for new buildings by 2025
- Continuously improve energy efficiency and solar PV uptake for existing buildings based on 2017/18 levels
Transport
- 45% of passenger fleet to be hybrid vehicles by 2023
- 15% of passenger vehicles to be EVs by 2025
Renewable energy procurement
- Achieve 100% renewable electricity for Council operations by end of 2023 financial year
Not waste
- Increase recovery rate of food organics from kerbside collections to 60% by 2025 and 70% by 2030 from 18% in 2019
- Increase purchase of recycled goods each year until Council is buying back recycled material equivalent to 50% by weight of the contents of kerbside recycling bins by 2025 and 100% by 2030
Carbon offsets
- Achieve carbon neutral/net zero emissions by 2023/24
The overarching targets are:
- 50% emissions reduction based on 2017/18 levels by 2025
- Net zero corporate emissions by 2023/24
Although community waste is not part of the corporate greenhouse gas emissions inventory it is an action area included due to the significance of its emissions and our ability to influence services.
Buildings, lighting and open space
- Development and implementation of Environmentally Sustainable Development standards on all Council facility new builds, upgrades and maintenance
- Solar PV installation on 19 council facilities, adding to the numerous solar installations completed prior to Net Zero
Transport
- Exceeded our target for 45% hybrid vehicles by 2023
- Have 2 electric vehicles in our fleet
- Eight public electric vehicle chargers have been installed
Renewable Energy Procurement
- We have achieved 100% renewable electricity for Council operations since 1 January 2023
Not waste
- In May 2023 we commenced our Weekly Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) collection trial trial
- Over 4,000 kitchen caddies for organic waste have been provided to residents (get your free kitchen caddy and compostable bags)
As a Council, we recognise that we have a role to play in reducing our own emissions, and supporting others in our community to reduce their emissions, influencing stakeholders and advocating to other levels of government.
‘Net Zero’ stands alongside our climate change adaptation program ‘AdaptWest’, as cornerstones of our climate change response.
This is our contribution to the global challenge of climate change.
Our greenhouse gas emissions include emissions from gas and electricity consumption from our buildings (where we pay the utility bills), reserves, water management (including recycled and bore water pumping), public streetlights and fuel use from our fleet vehicles, plant and equipment.
The figure below provides our 2018/2019 financial year emissions.
More information
Environmental Management Officer (Climate Emergency Response)
Zoe Smith
zsmith@charlessturt.sa.gov.au