Energy and climate change

There’s plenty we can do individually and collectively to stay globally competitive and reduce the impacts of climate change on Sydney and the wider world.

Why we’re doing this

Climate change is the most serious environmental challenge that human beings have faced. It is the defining issue of our time.

Globally, the largest contributor to climate change is the burning of fossil fuels for energy. Burning these fuels releases emissions that create a greenhouse effect in the atmosphere. This traps increasing levels of solar heat and causes warming. An energy transition to renewable energy is already well underway. To avert the worst consequences of climate change, we need to accelerate this transition.

That’s why we're pursuing ambitious but achievable goals of our own as part of our climate emergency response. Our vision is for a resilient, sustainable Sydney that remains one of the world’s most vibrant and liveable cities for decades to come.

We’ve drawn up targets for our area:

50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030
70% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 2006 levels
net zero emissions by 2050.

The benefits of achieving these targets are large and wide-ranging and will have a positive impact internationally as well as locally. In our area, we can look to cleaner air, a stronger economy and a healthier population.

Globally, a general move towards a more sustainable way of living can help to avoid the destabilisation of communities, extinction of species and increased regularity of catastrophic weather events.

We’ve gathered information about our ongoing emissions reductions initiatives, so you can see what we’re doing. There’s information on how you can take climate action too.

Climate change impacts

The consequences of climate change are being felt in Australia already.

These include:

the average surface air temperature has increased by 0.9°C since 1910, leading to more very hot days and fewer very cold days
bushfire season has lengthened and the type of extreme weather that commonly creates conditions for bushfires has increased
the sea level has risen at a rate of 3.2mm a year for the past 20 years.

For our area – as across the country – these changes are projected to get worse in the coming years. That will mean by 2070, Sydney’s climate is likely to be hit by a further increase in average temperatures, greater levels of air pollution, more extreme weather events and a spike in the number of extreme heat days each year.

There will also continue to be a marked variability in yearly rainfall, an increase in drought and bushfire conditions, and a severe threat to many coastal areas through the sea-level rise.

Poor and hazardous air quality is dangerous to our health, especially for people with respiratory problems.

What we’re doing

We’re adopting a diverse approach to tackling climate change and its effects. We know a challenge this great requires action on several fronts.

In 2020, these are the areas we’ll focus on.

The City of Sydney is now powered using 100 per cent renewable electricity generated from wind and solar farms in regional NSW.

All our operations – including street lights, pools, sports fields, depots, buildings and the historic Sydney Town Hall – are now run on 100% renewable electricity from locally-sourced clean energy.

The switch is expected to save up to half a million dollars a year over the next 10 years. It will reduce carbon emissions by around 20,000 tonnes a year – or the power used by 6,000 average households.

Watch this video to see where the City of Sydney is buying renewable electricity from, and how you can go renewable too.
We know that residents and businesses across the city want to use clean energy, so we’re making it easier by:
- offering a comprehensive renewable energy help centre that contains everything you need to know about rooftop solar and purchasing green energy from the grid
- waiving the development application fee for rooftop solar installations
- running a variety of programs and offering grants to help building owners and businesses improve their energy efficiency and switch to renewables.
Due to the urban heat island effect, dense urban environments can become hotter than surrounding suburban areas, which puts vulnerable residents at risk. We’re tackling the problem by:
- growing the city’s tree canopy cover by 50% by 2030. Trees help reduce air temperature by blocking the sun’s rays and improve the air we breathe as they absorb harmful particles and pollutants
- working with research centres such as the CRC for Low Carbon Living and UTS to monitor heat in our city, trial cool pavements and identify new ways to reduce urban temperatures.
We will continue to encourage the federal government and NSW Government to take action on climate change by:
- working with the state government to improve air quality in the city
- advocating for better-performing buildings and encouraging the adoption of rating systems such as Green Star and NABERS
- advocating for changes to the regulation of recycled water so it is financially feasible
- working to improve the BASIX and national construction code to ensure we don’t build more poor-performing buildings that will lock in carbon emissions for decades to come
- planning to be the first local government area in Australia to replace our public lighting portfolio with energy-efficient LEDs – we are partnering with Ausgrid to fast track the upgrade of utility-owned streetlights.
Sydney has already begun to feel the effects of climate change, which is why we’re taking steps right now to reduce the impact, by:
- planting more trees and other vegetation to help reduce temperatures in the city
- providing cool shared spaces for the community during long hot summers, such as swimming pools, libraries and more
- managing the impacts of flooding and protecting our waterways by installing rain gardens and wetlands and investing in stormwater infrastructure in new developments such as the Green Square town centre
- providing emergency accommodation and other services for homeless people and those sleeping rough during severe weather events.

Get involved

Whether you’re a business owner, worker or student, or a resident, there are things you can do to fight climate change and help take care of Sydney. And it’s easy to get started.

- Switch to GreenPower. The single best thing you can do for the environment today is switch to a 100% GreenPower-based electricity plan. Call your electricity provider and start the conversation with: “I want to switch to 100% GreenPower for the same rate I am paying now, or less.” To switch today, this is the fastest way to go renewable.
- Install rooftop solar. More than 2 million Aussie homes are already enjoying the benefits of rooftop solar: clean, green power that can save you money. Read more for home owners or people renting.
- Cut your energy consumption. From choosing energy-efficient lightbulbs and appliances to adjusting your thermostat, there are plenty of ways to reduce the amount of energy you use at home.
- Divest from fossil fuels. Change your investment profile to ethical, fossil-fuel companies and move away from banks that invest in fossil fuels. Visit Market Forces to compare the fossil fuel investment positions of financial institutions.
- Switch to renewable energy.
- Rate your building. Measurement is the first step to better management. Get your workspace assessed by a relevant sustainable rating agency such as NABERS, Green Star and EarthCheck, to see how you can save energy.
- Go carbon neutral. Business owners can fight climate change and reap reputational rewards by following the national carbon offset standard.
- Use our sustainability programs. You can join one of our programs that help businesses switch to renewables and reduce energy, water and waste. For example, nearly 1,000 office-based businesses are now part of the CitySwitch program, which champions energy efficiency and cost-saving measures.
- Divest from fossil fuels. Change your investment profile to ethical companies and move away from banks that invest in fossil fuels. Visit Market Forces to compare the fossil fuel investment positions of financial institutions.
- Advocate for your organisation to join one of our programs that helps businesses reduce waste, water and energy consumption, or going renewable with a power purchase agreement.
- Switch to GreenPower. The single best thing you can do for the environment today is switch to a 100% GreenPower-based electricity plan. Call your electricity provider and start the conversation with, “I want to switch to 100% GreenPower for the same or better rate that I am paying now". To switch today, this is the fastest way to go renewable.
- Choose a bank that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels. Many banks lend to companies that produce fossil fuels – change your bank to one that doesn’t. You can also encourage your organisation to divest from fossil fuels. Visit Market Forces to compare the fossil fuel investment positions of financial institutions.
- Switch to GreenPower. The single best thing you can do for the environment today is switch to a 100% GreenPower-based electricity plan. Call your electricity provider and start the conversation with, “I want to switch to 100% GreenPower for the same or better rate that I am paying now, or less."
- Use low-emissions transport. Take advantage of the city’s cycleways with a bike, walk to your destination or catch public transport.
- Choose a bank that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels. Many banks lend to companies that produce fossil fuels – change your bank to one that doesn’t. Visit Market Forces to compare the fossil fuel investment positions of financial institutions.
Australia took a step in the right direction when it signed the Paris Agreement in 2016 and committed to limit global temperature increases to less than 2˚C.

To meet this goal, the world must decarbonise by 2050.

We take Australia’s international obligations seriously, which is why we’ve developed emissions reduction targets of our own.

As our communities determines what kind of city we want to live in by 2050, the need for partnership and collaboration is more important than ever. We’ve demonstrated the impacts of collective action and now seek to drive this momentum across the nation, working with regional communities and our Pacific neighbours, as well as our global partners.

But progress at a national level has been slow.

That’s why we're pursuing ambitious but achievable goals of our own as part of our climate emergency response. Our vision is for a resilient, sustainable Sydney that remains one of the world’s most vibrant and liveable cities for decades to come.

We’ve drawn up targets for our area:
- 50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030
- 70% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 2006 levels
- net zero emissions by 2050.
The benefits of achieving these targets are large and wide-ranging and will have a positive impact internationally as well as locally. In our area, we can look to cleaner air, a stronger economy and a healthier population.

Globally, a general move towards a more sustainable way of living can help to avoid the destabilisation of communities, extinction of species and increased regularity of catastrophic weather events.
The consequences of climate change are being felt in Australia already. These include:
- the average surface air temperature has increased by 0.9°C since 1910, leading to more very hot days and fewer very cold days
- bushfire season has lengthened and the type of extreme weather that commonly creates conditions for bushfires has increased
- the sea level has risen at a rate of 3.2mm a year for the past 20 years.
For our area – as across the country – these changes are projected to get worse in the coming years. That will mean by 2070, Sydney’s climate is likely to be hit by a further increase in average temperatures, greater levels of air pollution, more extreme weather events and a spike in the number of extreme heat days each year.

There will also continue to be a marked variability in yearly rainfall, an increase in drought and bushfire conditions, and a severe threat to many coastal areas through the sea-level rise.

Poor and hazardous air quality is dangerous to our health, especially for people with respiratory problems.

Renewable energy help centre

From rooftop solar to GreenPower: find out how to switch to renewable electricity at home and at work.

Climate emergency

The City of Sydney declared a climate emergency in June 2019, stating that climate change poses a serious risk to the people of Sydney. This document details our next steps.

Strategies & action plans
Climate Emergency ResponseLast updated 24 June 2019

City of Sydney News

News
How to negotiate the best GreenPower electricity deal
What to ask and what to watch out for in your renewable electricity plan
29 September 2020
News
Lighting our city spaces over darker days
We’ve upgraded our pools and community centres to make them even more energy efficient.
28 September 2020
News
Watch: A Farmer, a sheep shearer, a cricket coach – meet the Gamiliroi country locals benefiting from GreenPower projects
See one of the places the City of Sydney buys electricity from - Sapphire Wind Farm near Inverell in northern NSW.
15 September 2020
News
International acclaim for our urban wetlands
Sydney Park’s water reuse project wins major award.
13 August 2020
News
We’ve made the switch to 100% renewable energy
The City of Sydney is now powered using 100 per cent renewable electricity generated from wind and solar farms in regional NSW.
1 July 2020
News
5 things to know about our electricity deal
The City of Sydney is now 100% renewable. We’ve struck a deal that’s good for the city, benefits regional NSW and protects the planet. Here’s how we did it.
1 July 2020
News
Net zero by 2040: Ambitious new emissions target set
We’ve brought forward our own deadline by a decade.
18 February 2020
News
Reducing water use under new restrictions
Following the introduction of level 2 water restrictions, the City of Sydney will further reduce water use across all our parks, pools and facilities.
10 December 2019
News
We’re backing the Save our Recycling campaign
The City of Sydney joins Local Government NSW’s effort.
26 November 2019
News
In pictures: Bringing in the (stormwater) harvest
Stormwater recycling in Green Square is helping save Sydney’s precious drinking water. Look behind the scenes at a cutting-edge, urban recycled water scheme.
19 September 2019