CARBON NEUTRAL
National Carbon Offset Standard and Carbon Neutral Program
CASE STUDY: City of Sydney
The City of Sydney covers over 26 square kilometres and services over 200,000 residents and 20,000 businesses. The City’s future development program, called Sustainable Sydney 2030, aims to make Sydney a green, global and connected city.
The City of Sydney was the first government body in Australia to be certified as carbon neutral against the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS). The decision to become carbon neutral was a decision of the Council, led by the Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Carbon Neutral certification was first achieved in 2011 through the process of measuring, reducing and offsetting emissions, and has been maintained since then.
Between 2006 and 2015 this led to emissions being reduced by approximately 25 per cent, despite substantial growth in the number of buildings and services offered.
The business case for obtaining carbon neutral certification
The City has strong environmental ambitions, actions and targets which have been developed in response to community feedback and expectations. It is clearly acknowledged that greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to climate change and there are significant benefits and opportunities to be gained by accelerating the transition to a low carbon society. There is a firm commitment at the most senior levels within the City of Sydney to lead by example and to reduce emissions from the local government area. Carbon neutral certification was selected as a transparent and robust method that demonstrates the City’s commitment to action on climate change.
Achieving Carbon Neutrality
Carbon footprint
In 2006, the City’s carbon footprint was 52,972 tCO2-e including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. While these emissions were offset, the City was first certified carbon neutral in 2011 based on an emissions footprint of 50,030 tCO2-e. The organisational boundary includes emissions associated with buildings, street lighting, work related journeys, major services and parks.
Emission reductions
The City has undertaken a range of initiatives in order to reduce its emissions. These have involved implementing energy and water retrofits in our largest consuming sites and the installation of onsite solar PV without selling the renewable energy certificates. The city has also upgraded its street lighting with LED lamps, and uses biofuel and renewable powered electric vehicles. The higher order priorities are to continue reducing our emissions through energy and emissions avoidance. We have implemented efficiency programs and undertaken direct investment in renewable energy. Once emissions are avoided or reduced the remaining emissions are then offset.
Offsetting
Offsets are procured each year via quotation and are evaluated based on the NCOS requirement, environmental impacts, price and co-benefits. Typically offsets are purchased that have been created from international renewable energy projects with associated co-benefits that relate to health, education, employment, biodiversity or infrastructure.
Benefits and outcomes of carbon neutral certification
The City retains carbon neutral certification to demonstrate its leadership and ongoing commitment to reducing emissions and minimising the impacts from climate change.
Our environmental reputation is considered one factor in attracting talented employees who want to be leaders in this space.
This environmental standing has also helped foster strong relationships with its residential and business community, both of which support action on climate change.
Challenges and learnings
The initial engagement of a consultant greatly assisted the City to identify its organisational and operational boundaries. While this was prior to receiving certification, it established the processes that have remained largely unchanged.
Each year the reporting process is repeated to ensure the accurate recording of emissions and maintenance of carbon neutrality.
The entire certification process has enabled better understanding of the City’s organisational emissions, opportunities and motivation for action. It has improved the level of internal engagement and increased awareness of key decision makers and data keepers.
“The City of Sydney was the first government in Australia to be certified carbon neutral under the National Carbon Offset Standard, which provides a transparent and robust way to measure, reduce and offset our emissions. We encourage others to take strong actions and realise the opportunities that will come from a low carbon and prosperous society.”
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