News
'From Leadership to Action' seminar
Date of story: 13 May 2008
23 May 2008, 7:30 - 9:00am. Barnet Long Room, Customs House, Circular Quay.
Following on from the success of Earth Hour, the global event which has inspired millions of people to reduce energy consumption, WWF-Australia, City of Sydney and Investa Property Group are hosting breakfast seminar, ‘From Leadership to Action’.
The aim is to put businesses on a course to cutting the cost and greenhouse impact of their office accommodation - starting immediately. Attendees will be provided with the framework needed to lead their organisation to lower emissions, on Earth Hour and every other hour of the year.
Speakers are Cr John McInerney - City of Sydney, Paul Toni - Program Leader Climate Change & Sustainable Development, WWF-Australia, John Thomas - MD and CEO Investa Property Group.
If you are interested in attending contact Gail Broadbent, WWF-Australia on (02) 8202 1256.
2006/07 Progress Report - Executive Briefing
Date of story: 2 November 2007
The 3CBDs annual Progress Report – Executive Briefing, was held on 1 November at the North Sydney Oval Function Centre. This annual event was attended by over 70 CEO’s and senior executives representing the corporate sector Signatories.
Feedback from Signatories who attended the briefing was extremely positive. They felt that during 2006/07 that the Initiative effectively provided a robust framework to measure, monitor, and promote their progress to reduce their climate change impact.
A full outline of the Initiative’s collective and individual achievements is available in the 3CBDs Progress Report Snapshot.
Extract from the Progress Report
2006/07 has been as a significant year for the 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative. It gained wide-spread recognition on the national and international stage, establishing it as a world-leading program addressing tenant energy efficiency.
The Initiative extensively promoted 3CBDs Signatories as environmental leaders dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint; and reinforced ABGR’s positioning as an industry tool to be used by tenants to measure and reduce their climate change impact.
Several important events and achievements contributed to this positioning, namely:
Earth Hour – On 15 December 2006, Earth Hour was launched by WWF-Australia and the Fairfax Media group, with strong support by the City of Sydney, North Sydney and Parramatta City Councils and 26 Signatories. Through their leadership, the Councils and Signatories helped to engage their staff and tenants, and drive corporate sector participation. They demonstrated what can be done every hour of every day to improve office energy efficiency.
On 31 March 2007 – from 7.30pm-8.30pm – over 2,000 businesses turned off their lights and office equipment contributing to a 10.2 per cent drop in energy usage across the CBD. Signatories were promoted extensively in newspapers advertisements and feature articles, and on promotional posters and marketing collateral linking 3CBDs to Earth Hour across the three Councils.
Green Cities 2007 Conference & Expo – On 11-14 February 2007, over 900 delegates at the Green Cities 2007 Conference & Expo received a 3CBDs promotional flyer; and heard Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor, City of Sydney speak about the Initiative, the contribution of the 3CBDs Signatories, and the program’s potential to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the commercial office tenancy sector.
C40 Large Cities Climate Conference – Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor, City of Sydney showcased the 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative and its Signatories at the Conference held in New York, 14-17 May 2007. Leaders of municipal governments and international businesses from over thirty world cities convened to create long-term international collaborations among large cities in order to drive down carbon emissions, and encourage cities to work with businesses and national governments to accelerate action on climate change.
2007 Banksia Environmental Awards – The Initiative was one of only seven finalists from across Australia to be chosen in the Climate Category. This was a significant achievement as the focus on climate change issues in 2007 had triggered a 200 per cent increase in entries into the Banksia Climate Award category compared to 2006. Established in 1989, the Banksia Awards have earned a reputation for being the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia.
CCCLM – In October 2007 the City of Sydney, North Sydney Council and Parramatta City Council – through the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors – began discussions with other Australian capital cities to create a national office tenancy energy efficiency program based on our Initiative.
Achievements snapshot
During 2006/07 the 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative:
- Increased from 24 to 45 Signatories
- Expanded to approximately 520,000 sqm of commercial office space; representing a 50,000 sqm increase on 2005/06
- Represented 7 per cent of Sydney’s total commercial office tenancy space
- Demonstrated CO2 emissions savings of 200 tonnes.
Of the 45 Signatories who participated in the Progress Reporting, 46 % have an accredited baseline tenancy rating and 15 % have an accredited current rating. Based on these accredited ratings, the area-weighted average baseline ABGR rating for 3CBDs Signatories is 3.4 stars; and the average current ABGR rating is 4.7 stars.
This indicates significant action as a result of the 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative.
The rated tenancies account for more than 32,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, and must save more than 12,000 tonnes of CO2 to meet their target ratings. Some businesses that are vacating their premises in the next 1-3 years, or joined the Initiative after the Progress Reporting phase commenced, have not undertaken an ABGR.
Since publishing the report IAG, Knight Frank and Roberts Weaver Group joined the Initiative taking the number of Signatories to 48.
3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative - a Banksia Awards finalist
Date of story: 19 June 2007
The 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative has been chosen as a finalist in the 2007 Banksia Environmental Awards, Climate Category.
Established in 1989, the Banksia Awards have earned a reputation for being the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia. They acknowledge excellence, leadership, commitment and outstanding achievement in various areas that contribute to the environment and a sustainable future.
This year the focus on climate change issues triggered a 200 per cent increase in entries into the Banksia Climate Award category compared to 2006. The 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative is one of only seven finalists from across Australia to be chosen in this category, which is a significant achievement.
By 30 June 2007, the 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative will have cut CO2 emissions by well over 26,000 tonnes per year and saved 28,500 MWh of energy and $2 million in annual energy costs.
Winners will be announced on 20 July 2007 at the Banksia Environmental Awards Presentation, to be held at the Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour. Tables can be booked via the Banksia Environmental Foundation.
The Banksia Awards judging system is rigorous, well tested and independent. Importantly, is it based on peer assessment – perhaps the toughest test of all.
Australia's emissions rising faster than expected
Date of story: 27 April 2007
Australia's energy consumption emissions have increased by 22.5 million tonnes according to data released today by The Climate Institute. This is the equivalent of adding more than five million cars to our roads, or nearly 50% of the nation's car fleet. And it's a bigger increase than governments had projected.
The burning of coal, oil and gas continues to be the leading cause of greenhouse gas pollution attributed to climate change.
