Friday, April 18, 2025

Yarra City driving down emissions path

Yarra City Council says it is continuing to make strong progress in its implementation of a Climate Emergency Plan.

“We’re continuing to reduce carbon emissions and helping the community to transition to renewable energy sources,” Council said in a statement this week.

It said recent achievements include:

  • Transitioning 17 Council buildings off gas to be all-electric and highly energy efficient;
  • Facilitating the installation of new fast electric vehicle chargers for public use with more chargers to be rolled out this year;
  • Leading a renewable electricity buying group for large energy using businesses;
  • Progressing towards new planning requirements for commercial and multi-residential developments to be all-electric and zero emissions.

“As Council’s operations are powered by 100% renewable electricity already, our focus is on reducing gas and vehicle fuel usage.”

“We’ve recently strengthened our evidence-base to further inform our work to drive down emissions, both within our operations and across the city.”

The work has produced two reports: one being an organisational report called Roadmap to Zero Emissions by 2030 and the other outlining external expert advice in the form of an advisory report called Roadmap to Zero, Towards achieving zero-net emissions in the City of Yarra.

Yarra City Council Mayor, Sophie Wade said Yarra had been operating as a certified carbon neutral organisation since 2012 and was continuing to lead the way in this space.

“We were one of the first councils in Australia to declare a climate emergency and to develop a climate emergency plan,” Mayor Wade said.

“By sharing the two roadmap to zero reports we hope to bring our community on the journey with us, while also inspiring others councils and businesses to achieve zero net emissions.”

To find out more about Yarra’s roadmap to zero reports and the many ways we are responding to the climate emergency visit our Take Climate Action Page

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