Current Status
Environmental Indicators
Environmental data (indicators) are used to monitor trends and the effectiveness of programs. The main indicators are summarised below.
Global warming
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Trend |
|
Atmospheric carbon dioxide (ppm C02) i |
374 |
376 |
378 |
379 |
382 |
|
Global-mean surface temperature increase (°C) ii |
0.55 |
0.56 |
0.60 |
0.42 |
0.51 |
|
i. Annual average CO2 concentrations provided by CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research based on data from the Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, which is funded and managed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. In 2008, atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide equivalent (includes other greenhouse gases such as methane or water vapour) are 455ppm.
ii. Observed temperature increase above the 140C global land/ocean climatic mean (from 1951-1980). NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/2007
Greenhouse gas emissions
(tC02e) |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Trend |
Global i |
49.0 billion |
50.1 billion |
51.2 billion |
52.2 billion |
53.3 billion |
|
National ii |
564 million |
583 million |
584 million |
580 million |
584 million |
|
City of Sydney LGA iii |
no data |
5.46 million |
no data |
- |
||
i. Calendar year global greenhouse gas emissions extrapolated from Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (based on 44.7GT in 2000 increasing to 49GT in 2004).
ii. Calendar year forecast estimate (including abatement measures) from Tracking To The Kyoto Target 2007, Australian Government.
iii. 2006 estimate developed by Kinesis for Sustainable Sydney 2030. There are currently no reliable emissions estimates at the local government area level.
City of Sydney emissions
The City's first greenhouse gas emissions inventory was prepared for 2006/07 and represents the City's baseline position against which future emission reductions will be measured.
In 2007/08, the City calculated and prepared its emissions inventory using the Emission Tracker software at Project Two Degrees (http://project2degrees.org) and a data collection and calculation methodology prepared by external consultants. Project Two Degrees was made available to the City of Sydney through its participation in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.
In 2007/08 the City's emissions increased slightly. This is attributable to better data collection and calculation methodologies used for the 2007/08 inventory and the inclusion of new assets within the calculation (e.g. the Ian Thorpe Pool). Going forward, the City expects that the numerous emission reduction activities it is carrying out now will be reflected in a decreased greenhouse gas emissions footprint in the future.
(tCO2e) |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Scope-1 |
4,363 (9%) |
4,311 (9%) |
Scope-2 |
35,002 (72%) |
36,344 (71%) |
Scope-3 |
9,192 (19%) |
10,319 (20%) |
Emissions total |
48,556 |
50,974 |
GreenPower |
-41,687 |
-43,253 |
VER offsets |
-5,983 |
-7,721 |
Other offsets |
-316 |
Nil |
Scope-3 exclusions |
-570 |
Nil |
Reductions total |
-48,556 |
-50,974 |
Net Emissions |
0 |
0 |
Scope 1 - Direct emissions from the use of natural gas in buildings, fossil fuels for vehicles and equipment and refrigerants in building equipment.
Scope 2 - Indirect emissions from electricity use for buildings, street lighting and other council infrastructure.
Scope 3 - Indirect emissions from the City of Sydney's events, waste, flights and taxi use as well as fossil fuels for waste and maintenance services contractors' vehicles.
Electricity
(MWh) |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Trend |
City of Sydney LGA electricity usage i |
TBA |
|||||
Households |
373,391 |
376,863 |
399,136 |
|||
Business |
3,520,574 |
3,576,030 |
3,714,346 |
|||
Council electricity usage ii |
||||||
Total |
No data |
40,759 |
42,485 |
43,318 |
|
|
Per employee |
27 |
26.5 |
27 |
|||
i. Information provided by Energy Australia for suburbs in and around the City of Sydney. Data is not confined to the LGA and may be based on accruals and estimates.
ii. Information provided by Planet Footprint using data from Energy Australia. Figures vary from previous reports due to improved estimates of street lighting electricity usage and the inclusion of new sites.
GreenPower
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Trend |
|
GreenPower usage in Australia (MWh) |
No data |
495,250 |
688,754 |
1,013,707 |
1,455,887 |
|
Households using GreenPower |
No data |
150,374 |
281,701 |
565,977 |
748,377 |
|
Businesses using GreenPower |
No data |
7,229 |
14,676 |
24,313 |
30,313 |
|
National GreenPower quarterly reports www.greenpower.com.au
City of Sydney GreenPower
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Trend |
|
Council GreenPower usage (MWh) |
4,144 |
7,695 |
39,328 |
40,836 (Pending) |
- |
Percent of electricity use (per cent) |
~10% |
~20% |
100% |
100% |
|
GreenPower cost ($) |
$125,845 |
$271,780 |
$2,524,268 |
TBA |
- |
Main provider |
Climate Friendly |
AGL |
COzero |
TBA |
- |
Includes GreenPower used by properties, public lighting. Smaller amounts of GreenPower have been used for fleet offsets and events.
Fleet
(tC02e) |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Trend |
Council fleet emissions |
2,795 |
2,981 |
2,692 |
2,980 |
3,001 |
- |
Contractor vehicle emissions |
No data |
1,060 |
1,315 |
1,438 |
- |
|
Total |
3,752 |
4,295 |
4,439 |
- |
||
Emissions offset (per cent) |
25% |
50% |
100% |
100% |
100% pending |
|
Main Provider |
Greenfleet |
Greenfleet |
CO2 Aus |
TBA |
- |
|
Full fuel cycle emissions calculated using 2008 National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) factors developed by the Australian Government.
Transport
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Trend |
|
Vehicles per day in LGA i |
756,535 |
765,307 |
758,560 |
744,172 |
742,038 |
|
Staff with travel passes |
194 (13%) |
266 (18%) |
321 (21%) |
338 (21%) |
363 (23%) |
|
i. Information provided by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (does not include Cross City Tunnel). Based on combined direction vehicle numbers for Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Anzac Bridge, Kings Cross Tunnel, Oxford Street, Parramatta Rd, King Street, Regent St, O'Riordan St, Anzac Pde, and City West Link Rd.
Regional Air Quality
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Trend |
|
Nitrogen Dioxide |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Carbon monoxide |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ozone |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nitrogen Dioxide |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Particulate Matter (<10 µm) |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
- |
Sulphur Dioxide |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nephelometer (visibility) |
18 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
4 |
|
Data from Air Quality Index (Randwick) www.environment.nsw.gov.au
Local Air Quality
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
Trend |
|
Carbon monoxide (C0 average ppm) |
1.9 |
1.3 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
|
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2 average pphm) |
5.2 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
4.0 |
|
Total nitrogen oxides (NOx average pphm) |
25.3 |
19.6 |
20.6 |
19.2 |
|
Particulate matter (PM10 average µg/m3) |
37.1 |
35.4 |
36.6 |
29.1 |
|
Particulate matter (PM2.5 average µg/ m3) |
5.1 |
14 |
15.3 |
11.1 |
Ground level Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Results (Mary Ann Street Park, Ultimo). Cross City Tunnel Air Quality Monitoring Reports. 2005/06 figures based on Sep 05 to May 06 monthly averages. National Environment Protection Measure criteria are CO (9 ppm); NO2 (12 pphm); NOx (no standard); PM10 (50 µg/m3); and PM2.5 (25 µg/m3) www.crosscity.com.au
Legend
$ - Cost
% - Percent
°C - Degrees Celsius
tC02e - Tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
LGA - Local Government Area
MWh - Megawatt hour
pphm - Parts per million per hour
ppm C02 - Parts per million carbon dioxide
µg/m3 - Micrograms per cubic meter
