{"id":6649,"date":"2020-05-22T07:49:26","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T07:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=6649"},"modified":"2020-05-22T07:49:26","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T07:49:26","slug":"citys-action-to-address-climate-change-set-to-be-strengthened","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2020\/05\/22\/citys-action-to-address-climate-change-set-to-be-strengthened\/","title":{"rendered":"City\u2019s action to address climate change set to be strengthened"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nWith City of Newcastle already leading the local government sector on climate action, the\u00a0community and local businesses are now invited to\u00a0learn\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0development of\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0strategy to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions even further as we continue to drive the\u00a0City\u2019s\u00a0journey towards\u00a0a\u00a0net zero emissions\u00a0future.
\nThe City\u2019s new climate action plan will outline specific goals and priorities for the next five years, paving the way to further positive environmental impacts, such as additional clean energy initiatives, resource efficiency, emissions reductions in supply chains and more sustainable transport.
\nCommunity engagement on the 2025 Climate Action Plan will help build on the\u00a0achievements of the existing 2020 Carbon Water Management Action Plan\u00a0(CWMAP), which winds up at year\u2019s end.
\nThe CWMAP\u00a0helped slash\u00a0carbon\u00a0emissions\u00a0through\u00a0construction of a five-megawatt solar farm,\u00a0installation of more than half a megawatt in rooftop solar panels on council facilities across the city and our suburbs, significant streetlight LED upgrades and a power purchase agreement\u00a0that sees the\u00a0City running\u00a0on 100 per cent renewables.
\nConstructed on a former landfill site after securing a \u00a0$6.5 million loan from Australia\u2019s Clean Energy Finance Corporation in 2018, our solar farm is the city\u2019s single largest investment in a renewable project, following eight other solar installations at\u00a0our Waratah Works Depot,\u00a0Newcastle Art Gallery, City Hall, Wallsend and\u00a0New Lambton libraries,\u00a0No.1\u00a0and\u00a0No.2 Sportsgrounds\u00a0and Newcastle Museum.
\nThe solar farm at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre builds on one of Australia’s most advanced renewable energy setups at a waste facility – with a 2.2megawatt landfill gas generator and a small wind turbine also located onsite.
\nMeanwhile, the City has begun transitioning to electric vehicles, installing\u00a0electric vehicle charging stations\u00a0to\u00a0encourage\u00a0EV\u00a0take up\u00a0and\u00a0investigating the use of\u00a0electric trucks to reduce diesel usage and further cut emissions.
\n\u201cThrough strong and consistent actions to reduce our emissions, in part due to our ambitious 2020 Carbon Water Management Action Plan, City of Newcastle is now recognised as one of the leading local government authorities when it comes to implementing initiatives to address climate change,\u201d Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
\n\u201cAfter achieving so much over the past five years, in particular becoming the first NSW Council to become powered by 100 per cent renewable energy this year, our transformation to a sustainable city will continue under a new Climate Action Plan.\u201d
\n\u201cPeople can learn about the goals we\u2019re looking to adopt in tackling climate change during the month-long public exhibition period.
\n\u201cI encourage everyone to let us know what they think should be prioritised and what role not only the\u00a0City\u00a0but businesses and the community should take to realise\u00a0net\u00a0zero emissions.\u201d
\nIn May 2019, City of Newcastle recognised that there is a global climate change emergency and urgent need for real action on climate change.
\nIn doing so, the City reaffirmed our commitment to a just economic transition for coal mining communities, including support for investment in hydrogen as an export energy, construction of large-scale renewables and pumped hydro, and manufacturing of electric vehicles.
\nLord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City also plays a strong advocacy role when it comes to pushing for action on climate change from the local government sector.
\n\u201cCity of Newcastle has long ensured local government steps in to fill the policy gaps left when other tiers of government and the private sector have failed to assist in reducing global emissions.
\n\u201cDating back to the Pathways to Sustainability Conference held in Newcastle in 1997 and subsequently by the development of local strategies and solutions through the Cities for Climate Protection Program, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and through development of practical implementation programs for local government in Australia and New Zealand, City of Newcastle has long led the way by working in partnerships to develop and implement strategies and initiatives to tackle climate change head on,\u201d the Lord Mayor said.
\nCity of Newcastle is a founding member of Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), a founding member of the Business Renewables Centre, a member of the Cities Power Partnership, a member of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and recently became a Pioneer City for ICLEI\u2019s CitiesWithNature program.
\nCity of Newcastle has formally committed to the principles and targets of the Paris Climate Agreement.
\nAn online information session will be held on Thursday 28 May at midday\u00a0to\u00a0provide further information on\u00a0the City\u2019s\u00a0current and future initiatives\u00a0before the draft\u00a0plan goes\u00a0on\u202fPublic Exhibition later in the year.
\nRegister\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0to register for the online session.
\nParticipants\u00a0are encouraged to submit three topics they\u2019d like covered or\u202fquestions on climate action\u202fin advance\u00a0here<\/a>
\nUnder the 2020 CWMAP,\u00a0to date\u00a0City\u00a0of Newcastle\u00a0has:<\/p>\n