Sustainability
Our green credentials
The City of Sydney was the first local council in Australia to be certified carbon neutral.
We are serious about reducing our carbon footprint and we’re encouraging other people and organisations to do the same.
Our first steps towards a greener planet involved reducing and then offsetting our greenhouse gas emissions in 2008. We are now aiming to cut emissions as the source.
We plan to cut carbon dioxide emissions in half that come from the City’s properties. By installing solar panels on City buildings, we have already seen an 18 per cent drop in these emissions.
Two electric cars and more than 20 diesel-electric hybrid trucks in our fleet help to cut down our transport emissions by 30 per cent.
Of course, our green efforts don’t end in the workplace.
We're committed to innovative plans for producing energy, collecting and treating waste and using water. We call this green infrastructure. This includes a $12 million investment in renewable energy over the next 5 years, a decentralised water network for non-drinking purposes and using advanced waste technologies to collect and treat our waste.
Energy-efficient LED street lights are being rolled out to all public spaces in the local area. LEDs use half the electricity of traditional light bulbs.
Promoting biodiversity and planting trees and shrubs in our streets and parks are important steps towards greening the city.
Green roofs and walls are important parts of a sustainable city too as they can be homes for various plant species and host renewable energy technology. We have also launched Green Villages, a site for people committed to a more sustainable future.
Last updated: Friday, 7 June 2013
