Plan adopted 24 November 2020

Climate Action Planning

CN is accelerating the transition to a sustainable city through our new Climate Action Plan.

Thanks for taking action on Climate Change

In total, over 60 submissions were received during the recent public exhibition. Support for CN’s role towards taking climate action was clearly identified, reaffirming CN’s commitment to lead by example, build strong city partnerships, and continuing to deliver important emission reduction achievements for the city.

You can read the Public Exhibition Engagement Activity Report and earlier Engagement Snapshot Report to find out more.

CN's Climate Action Plan is structured around four key themes for reducing emissions across CN operations, support for development of sustainable infrastructure and encouraging new community renewable energy projects. Setting a goal for Net Zero Emissions, CN has built upon previous achievements, identified a detailed and achievable pathway to reduce our corporate emissions and set targets in line with the urgent action that the science is telling us must be undertaken to achieve rapid decarbonisation

Background

Councillors endorsed the draft 2025 CAP for public exhibition at the 28 July 2020 Ordinary Council meeting. The draft 2025 CAP acts as a roadmap for achieving positive impacts such as increasing clean energy, continuing resource efficiency, reducing emissions in our supply chain, supporting sustainable transport and addressing important issues such as setting targets for net zero emissions and building our vision for a low carbon economy.

The public exhibition period occurred from 4 August to 31 August 2020 (28 days). During this engagement period, both stakeholder and general community feedback was encouraged and supported through communications and promotion across a wide variety of channels.

Newcastle - Climate Action from Cloak Theory on Vimeo.

Project news

UN Sustainable Development Goals - 17 Goals to Transform Our World

13 May 2020

City of Newcastle is incorporating The United Nations' Sustainable Development goals into the new Climate Action Plan.

Each SDG has specific targets to be achieved over the next 10 years and include: no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions; and partnerships for the goals.

City awards contract for cutting-edge organics recycling facility

13 May 2020

City of Newcastle has awarded a contract for an advanced organics recycling facility as part of a 25-year commitment to revolutionise food and garden waste treatment.

The project at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre by Barpa Pty Ltd, in partnership with a company that has designed 120 composting facilities worldwide, will over 25 years:

• Divert about 900,000 tonnes of food and garden organics from landfill
• Slash greenhouse emissions by 900,000 tonnes, equal to eliminating 250,000 cars
• Save ratepayers $24 million in operational costs
• Reduce the section 88 levy paid to the NSW Government by $32.5 million

Onsite recycling of garden organics will begin at Summerhill in a fully enclosed facility in 2022 before food organics are added four years later, following comprehensive community consultation.

City awards 100 per cent renewable contract

13 May 2020

City of Newcastle joined the University of Newcastle in switching over to renewables on 1 January 2020, following the lead of other progressive Australian organisations, including the University of NSW, CBA, Westpac, Monash University and Melbourne University.

We are the first local government in NSW to move to 100 per cent renewable electricity after awarding a tender to purchase power from the state’s largest windfarm.

A 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) was awarded to energy retailer Flow Power for the equivalent of all the City’s operational needs from the Sapphire Wind Farm in the New England region.