Council has approved a range of new actions to help the City of Onkaparinga reach its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040 for the organisation.
The council has already committed to significant climate action, with 72 of 79 actions from its Climate Change Response Plan 2022–27 either completed or underway, and the organisation on track for an 80 per cent emissions reduction by 2030.
This week's Council decision is aimed at tackling the remaining 20 per cent of corporate emissions, and it comprises 25 additional actions, of which 20 are new and five are enhancements of existing actions.
The additional actions will address emissions generated from buildings (gas and electricity), street lighting (though there are minimal opportunities for further reduction), and vehicles, and they include:
- transitioning council-owned/operated buildings from gas to electric where possible
- looking for opportunities to repurpose existing buildings where possible, rather than building new ones
- developing an Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) policy to include climate change considerations for new buildings and retrofits
- making sure emissions reduction targets and climate change impacts are factored into future strategic plans
- purchasing zero emissions energy in future electricity contracts where possible
- providing ongoing training and education for staff and elected members around climate change to build their knowledge and skills.
Council also approved a range of other measures aimed at reducing the organisation’s indirect emissions (through the products it purchases), and at providing practical assistance, leadership, education programs and advice to residents and businesses around climate change.
Measures include developing a circular economy transition plan to design out waste and increase the purchase of recycled materials; broadening council’s sustainability rebates program and building community awareness around sustainable housing options; trialling a “library of things” that people can borrow to avoid having to buy them such as cooking or camping equipment. .
The suite of actions approved by Council responds directly to the elected members’ climate emergency declaration motion in January, acknowledging the urgent action that needs to be taken to respond to climate change.
Most of the new climate change response actions will be funded through existing resources, with staff to seek additional resources for other actions through grant funding and annual budgeting processes where possible.
City of Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were said the new measures put the council a few steps closer to its climate goal of net zero by 2040.
“Declaring a climate emergency was an important yet symbolic gesture, but these new measures are the pieces that back it up with real action,” she said.