100% Renewables has been tracking ambitious carbon and renewable energy commitments made by all levels of Australian governments since we developed the 100% Renewable Energy Master Plan for Lismore City Council in 2014. In May 2017, we published our first blog post on the energy and carbon commitments of states, territories and local governments. In March 2018, we posted an update of the carbon and renewable energy commitments, and then again in October 2018.
With the ever-increasing number of ambitious public commitments being made by local councils, this update splits the commitments of local governments into ones that focus on council operations and those that focus on their communities.
For the first time, we are also now covering membership by local councils of the Cities Power Partnership, CEDAMIA, the Global Compact of Mayors, and C40.
As has now become customary, we present a graphic with state and territories commitments. We also show state-by-state commitments by local governments and communities. The ACT, NSW and Victorian councils are still leading the way.
States’ and territories’ climate change commitments
States and territories are committing to both renewable energy as well as carbon reduction targets. Most targets are in line with the Paris Agreement, which means that zero net emissions have to be reached by mid-century.
| STATE OR TERRITORY | RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMITMENT | CARBON COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ~20% from renewable energy sources by 2020 (33,000 GWh by 2020) (Target achieved) | 26-28% emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2030 |
| ACT | 100% renewable electricity by 2020 (Target achieved in October 2019) | 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on 1990 levels by 2020 Zero net emissions by 2045 |
| NSW | 20% from renewable energy in line with the RET | Zero net emissions by 2050 |
| NT | 50% renewable energy by 2030 | Zero net emissions by 2050 |
| SA | 50% renewable energy production by 2025 (Target achieved in 2018) | Zero net emissions by 2050 |
| TAS | 100% renewable energy by 2022 | Commitment to establish a zero net emissions target by 2050 |
| QLD | 50% renewable energy by 2030 | Zero net emissions by 2050 |
| VIC | 25% renewable energy by 2020 40% renewable energy by 2025 50% renewable energy by 2030 | Zero net emissions by 2050 |
| WA | No target | Zero net emissions by 2050 |
Capital cities’ climate change commitments
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane have been carbon neutral for many years and soon, they will be joined by Adelaide and the ACT Government. Perth has a carbon reduction target of 20%, while Hobart doesn’t have any official targets, but has a strong history of carbon reduction initiatives.
Exciting news is that from January 2019, Melbourne has been powered by 100% renewable energy, and they will soon be followed by the City of Sydney. If you are interested in how you can achieve 100% renewable energy, you can read our blog post on ‘Eight ways to achieve 100% renewable electricity’.
| CAPITAL CITY | COMMITMENT |
|---|---|
| ACT Government | 100% renewable electricity by 2020 40% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 by 2020 50–60% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 by 2025 65–75% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 by 2030 90-95% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 by 2040 Net zero emissions by 2045 |
| Adelaide | Zero net emissions from council operations by 2020 First carbon neutral town by 2050 |
| Brisbane | Carbon neutral council from 2017 |
| Melbourne | 100% renewable energy from 2019 Carbon neutral from 2012 Net zero emissions for the LGA by 2050 |
| Sydney | 100% renewable energy for council operations by 2021 Carbon neutral from 2008 Reduce emissions by 70% for the LGA by 2030 Net zero emissions for the LGA by 2050 |
Local governments – ambitious commitments
This table showcases ambitious carbon and energy commitments by capital cities and local governments and their communities. ‘Ambitious’ means that commitments need to be broadly in line with science.
We split the tables into renewable energy commitments and carbon reduction commitments.
If you are interested in learning more about the difference between renewable energy and carbon targets, you can read our blog post on whether carbon neutral and 100% renewables are the same.
| STATE OR TERRITORY | LOCAL GOVERNMENTS | RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMITMENT | CARBON COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | ACT | 100% renewable electricity by 2020 | 40% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 by 2020 50-60% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 by 2025 65-75% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 by 2030 90-95% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 by 2040 Net zero emissions by 2045 |
| NSW | Broken Hill Council | 100% renewable energy status by 2030 | |
| NSW | Blacktown City Council | Net-zero GHG emissions from electricity, fuel and gas by 2030 | |
| NSW | Blue Mountains City Council | Carbon neutral by 2025 | |
| NSW | Byron Bay Council | 100% renewable energy by 2027 | Net zero by 2025 |
| NSW | City of Newcastle | 100% renewable electricity from 2020 | |
| NSW | Coffs Harbour City Council | 100% renewable energy by 2030 | |
| NSW | Eurobodalla Shire Council | 100% renewable energy by 2030 | |
| NSW | Inner West Council | 100% renewable electricity by 2025 | Carbon neutral by 2025 100% divestment from fossil fuel |
| NSW | Ku-ring-gai Council | Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 or earlier | |
| NSW | Kyogle Council | 25% electricity from on-site solar by 2025 50% renewable electricity by 2025 100% renewable electricity by 2030 | |
| NSW | Lismore City Council | Self-generate all electricity needs from renewable sources by 2023 | |
| NSW | Nambucca Council | Zero net carbon emissions within the 2030 to 2050 time frame | |
| NSW | Parramatta Council | Carbon neutral by 2022 | |
| NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings Council | 100% renewable energy by 2027 | |
| NSW | Randwick Council | 100% renewable by 2030 for stationary and transport energy | Zero emissions by 2030 |
| NSW | Shoalhaven City Council | 25% renewables by 2023 and 50% by 2030 | Net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Reduce emissions by 25% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, compared to 2015 levels. |
| NSW | Sydney | 100% renewable energy for council operations by 2021 | Carbon neutral from 2008 |
| NSW | Tweed Shire Council | 50% renewable energy by 2025 | |
| NSW | Willoughby City Council | By 2028 emit 50% less GHG emissions from operations compared with 2008/09 Achieve net zero emissions by 2050 |
|
| QLD | Brisbane City Council | Carbon neutral since 2017 | |
| QLD | Gold Coast City Council | Carbon neutral by 2020 | |
| QLD | Logan Council | Carbon neutral by 2022 | |
| QLD | Noosa Council | Net zero emissions by 2026 | |
| QLD | Sunshine Coast Council | Net zero emissions by 2041 | |
| SA | Adelaide Hills Council | Aspiration to reach 100% renewable energy | Aspiration to reach carbon neutrality |
| VIC | City of Ballarat Council | 100% renewables by 2025 | Zero emissions by 2025 |
| VIC | City of Greater Bendigo | 100% renewable energy by 2036 | |
| VIC | City of Greater Geelong | Zero carbon council by 2050 | |
| VIC | City of Port Phillip | Zero net emissions by 2020 | |
| VIC | City of Yarra | 100% renewable electricity since 2019 | Carbon neutral since 2012 |
| VIC | Hepburn Council | Carbon neutral by 2021 | |
| VIC | Hobsons Bay | Reach zero net GHG emissions from council's activities by 2020 | |
| VIC | Glen Eira | Net zero emissions from operations by 2030 | |
| VIC | Manningham | 100% carbon neutral by 2020 | |
| VIC | Melbourne | 100% renewable energy from 2019 | Carbon neutral by 2020 |
| VIC | Moreland Council | 100% renewable energy by 2019 | Carbon neutral for operations since 2012 |
| VIC | Mornington Peninsula Council | Carbon neutral by 2021 | |
| VIC | Wyndham | Carbon neutral for corporate GHG emissions by 2040 | |
| WA | City of Bayswater | Corporate renewable energy target of 100% by 2030 | Corporate GHG emissions reduction target of 100% by 2040 |
| WA | City of Fremantle | 100% renewable energy by 2025 | Carbon neutral since 2009 |
| WA | Mandurah | Carbon neutral by 2020 |
100% Renewables is proud to have developed many of the renewable energy strategies and plans for councils that have committed to ambitious targets. We are also involved with many other councils that are delivering on their targets, including:
- Broken Hill Council
- Blue Mountains City Council
- Coffs Harbour City Council
- Inner West Council
- Kyogle Council
- Lismore City Council
- Nambucca Shire Council
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
- City of Parramatta Council
- Randwick City Council
- Tweed Shire Council
- Willoughby City Council
Ambitious renewable energy and carbon commitments by NSW councils and the ACT Government
Ambitious renewable energy and carbon commitments by VIC councils
Ambitious renewable energy and carbon commitments by QLD councils
Ambitious renewable energy and carbon commitments by SA councils
Ambitious renewable energy and carbon commitments by WA councils
Community climate change commitments
Until recently, most local governments focused on their own operations by developing targets and actions plans. With the increasing need to rapidly reduce carbon emissions to combat climate change, more and more councils are now looking at how they can lead and facilitate carbon mitigation in their communities.
The following table shows renewable energy and carbon commitments made by local governments on behalf of their community.
| STATE OR TERRITORY | COMMUNITY | RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMITMENT | CARBON COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Byron Bay Community | Net zero by 2025 | |
| NSW | Hawkesbury City Council | Carbon neutral LGA by 2036 | |
| NSW | Inner West Council | 100% of schools have installed solar by 2036 Solar PV capacity is 20 times greater than in 2017 by 2036 | Community emissions are 75% less than in 2017 in 2036 |
| NSW | Lockhart | Plan for town to be powered by renewable energy and operating on a microgrid | |
| NSW | Mullumbimby | 100% renewable energy by 2020 | |
| NSW | Sydney | Reduce emissions by 70% for the LGA by 2030 Net zero emissions for the LGA by 2050 |
|
| NSW | Tyalgum Village | Plan to be off the grid 100% renewable energy, with batteries | |
| NSW | Uralla Town | Plan to be first zero net energy town | |
| NSW | Willoughby City Council | By 2028, our community will emit 30% less GHG emissions compared with 2010/11 | |
| VIC | City of Darebin | Zero net carbon emissions across Darebin by 2020 | |
| VIC | Healesville | Net zero town by 2027 | |
| VIC | Hobsons Bay | Reach zero net GHG emissions from the communitys activities by 2030 | |
| VIC | Glen Eira | Net zero emissions from the community by 2050 | |
| VIC | Melbourne | Net zero emissions by 2050 | |
| VIC | Moreland Council | Zero carbon emissions Moreland by 2040 | |
| VIC | Natimuk | 100% renewable energy with community solar farm | |
| VIC | Newstead Village | Plan to be 100% renewable | |
| VIC | Warrnambool Council | Carbon neutral city by 2040 | |
| VIC | Wyndham | Zero net GHG emissions from electricity use in the municipality by 2040 | |
| VIC | Yackandandah Town | 100% renewable energy by 2022 | |
| WA | City of Fremantle | Zero carbon for LGA by 2025 | |
| WA | Perth | 32% reduction in citywide emissions by 2031 |
At this stage, only the NSW graphic has been split into council operations’ and communities’ commitments. For other states, please refer to the maps in the previous section.
Ambitious renewable energy and carbon commitments by NSW communities
Local governments in Australia that have declared a climate emergency
Local governments are playing a key role in leading the climate emergency response, which is why CEDAMIA (derived from Climate Emergency Declaration and Mobilisation In Action) campaigns for a Climate Emergency Declaration at all levels of government.
CEDAMIA calls on all Australian federal, state, and territory parliaments and all local councils to:
- Declare a climate emergency
- Commit to providing maximum protection for all people, economies, species, ecosystems, and Civilisations, and to fully restoring a safe climate
- Mobilise the required resources and take effective action at the necessary scale and speed
- Transform the economy to zero emissions and make a fair contribution to drawing down the excess carbon dioxide in the air, and
- Encourage all other governments around the world to take these same actions.
CEDAMIA works in conjunction in conjunction with CACE – Council Action in the Climate Emergency. Step 1 is to declare a climate emergency, and step 2 is to mobilise your community and move into emergency mode. According to CACE, a local government’s key role is to
- Lobby state and national governments to adopt and fund full climate emergency response
- Encourage other councils to implement a climate emergency response through networks and by leading by example
- Have local emergency action through education, mitigation and resilience building
- Educating council staff about the climate emergency and what council can do to respond
For a great example of a climate emergency plan, download the Climate Emergency Darebin Strategic Plan.
The following local governments have declared a climate emergency:
| STATE | LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
|---|---|
| ACT | Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly |
| NSW | Bega Valley Shire Council |
| NSW | Bellingen Shire Council |
| NSW | Blue Mountains City Council |
| NSW | Broken Hill City Council |
| NSW | Byron Shire Council |
| NSW | Canada Bay City Council |
| NSW | Canterbury Bankstown City Council |
| NSW | Central Coast Council |
| NSW | Clarence Valley Council |
| NSW | Glen Innes Severn Shire Council |
| NSW | Hawkesbury City Council |
| NSW | Inner West Council |
| NSW | Lane Cove Council |
| NSW | Lismore City Council |
| NSW | Newcastle City Council |
| NSW | North Sydney Council |
| NSW | Northern Beaches Council |
| NSW | Randwick City Council |
| NSW | Ryde City Council |
| NSW | Sydney City Council |
| NSW | Tweed Shire Council |
| NSW | Upper Hunter Shire Council |
| NSW | Wollongong City Council |
| NSW | Woollahra Municipal Council |
| NT | Darwin City Council |
| QLD | Noosa Shire Council |
| SA | Adelaide City Council |
| SA | Adelaide Hills Council |
| SA | Burnside City Council |
| SA | Gawler Town Council |
| SA | Light Regional Council |
| SA | Parliament of South Australia Upper House |
| SA | Port Adelaide Enfield City Council |
| SA | Port Lincoln City Council |
| TAS | Hobart City Council |
| TAS | Kingborough Council |
| TAS | Launceston City Council |
| VIC | Ballarat City Council |
| VIC | Banyule City Council |
| VIC | Bass Coast Shire Council |
| VIC | Brimbank City Council |
| VIC | Cardinia Shire Council |
| VIC | Darebin City Council |
| VIC | Hepburn Shire Council |
| VIC | Hobsons Bay City Council |
| VIC | Indigo Shire Council |
| VIC | Maribyrnong City Council |
| VIC | Melbourne City Council |
| VIC | Moonee Valley City Council |
| VIC | Moreland City Council |
| VIC | Mornington Peninsula Shire Council |
| VIC | Port Phillip City Council |
| VIC | Surf Coast Shire Council |
| VIC | Warrnambool City Council |
| VIC | Yarra City Council |
| VIC | Yarra Ranges Council |
| WA | Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council |
| WA | Denmark Shire Council |
| WA | Fremantle City Council |
| WA | Swan City Council |
| WA | Town of Victoria Park |
| WA | Vincent City Council |
Local Governments that are members of Cities Power Partnership
The Cities Power Partnership (CPP) is Australia’s largest local government climate network, made up over 113 councils from across the country, representing almost 11 million Australians. Local councils who join the partnership make five action pledges in either renewable energy, efficiency, transport or working in partnership to tackle climate change.
There are dozens of actions that councils can choose from ranging from putting solar on council assets, switching to electric vehicles, to opening up old landfills for new solar farms. The following table shows current local government members of CPP.
| STATE | LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
|---|---|
| ACT | Canberra |
| NSW | Albury City Council |
| NSW | Bathurst Regional Council |
| NSW | Bayside Council |
| NSW | Bega Valley Shire |
| NSW | Bellingen Shire Council |
| NSW | Blacktown City Council |
| NSW | Blue Mountains City Council |
| NSW | Broken Hill City Council |
| NSW | Byron Shire Council |
| NSW | City of Canterbury-Bankstown |
| NSW | Central Coast Council |
| NSW | Coffs Harbour |
| NSW | Cumberland Council |
| NSW | Eurobodalla Council |
| NSW | Georges River Council |
| NSW | Hawkesbury City Council |
| NSW | Hornsby Shire Council |
| NSW | Inner West Council |
| NSW | Kiama Council |
| NSW | Ku-ring-gai Council |
| NSW | Lane Cove Council |
| NSW | Lismore City Council |
| NSW | Mosman Council |
| NSW | MidCoast Council |
| NSW | Muswellbrook Shire Council |
| NSW | Nambucca Shire Council |
| NSW | The City of Newcastle |
| NSW | Northern Beaches Council |
| NSW | North Sydney Council |
| NSW | Orange City Council |
| NSW | Parkes Shire Council |
| NSW | City of Parramatta |
| NSW | Penrith City Council |
| NSW | Port Macquarie-Hastings |
| NSW | Randwick City Council |
| NSW | City of Ryde |
| NSW | Shellharbour City Council |
| NSW | Shoalhaven City Council |
| NSW | City of Sydney |
| NSW | Tweed Shire |
| NSW | Upper Hunter Shire Council |
| NSW | City of Wagga Wagga |
| NSW | Waverley Council |
| NSW | Willoughby Council |
| NSW | Wingecarribee Shire |
| NSW | Woollahra Municipal Council |
| QLD | Brisbane City Council |
| QLD | Bundaberg Regional Council |
| QLD | Cairns Regional Council |
| QLD | Douglas Shire Council |
| QLD | Ipswich City Council |
| QLD | Livingstone Shire Council |
| QLD | Logan City Council |
| QLD | Mackay Regional Council |
| QLD | Noosa Shire Council |
| QLD | Sunshine Coast Council |
| SA | Adelaide Hills Council |
| SA | City of Adelaide |
| SA | Alexandrina Council |
| SA | City of Charles Sturt |
| SA | Goyder Regional Council |
| SA | Kangaroo Island Council |
| SA | Mount Barker District Council |
| SA | City of Onkaparinga |
| SA | City of Victor Harbor |
| NT | Alice Springs Town Council |
| NT | City of Darwin |
| WA | City of Armadale |
| WA | Shire of Augusta-Margaret River |
| WA | Town of Bassendean |
| WA | City of Bayswater |
| WA | City of Belmont |
| WA | City of Bunbury |
| WA | City of Busselton |
| WA | City of Canning |
| WA | City of Cockburn |
| WA | Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup |
| WA | City of Fremantle |
| WA | City of Gosnells |
| WA | City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder |
| WA | City of Kwinana |
| WA | City of Melville |
| WA | Shire of Mundaring |
| WA | Shire of Northam |
| WA | City of Rockingham |
| WA | Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale |
| WA | City of Swan |
| WA | Town of Victoria Park |
| VIC | City of Ballarat |
| VIC | Benalla Rural City Council |
| VIC | City of Boroondara |
| VIC | City of Casey |
| VIC | City of Darebin |
| VIC | City of Greater Dandenong |
| VIC | Hepburn Shire Council |
| VIC | Mildura Rural City Council |
| VIC | City of Monash |
| VIC | Moreland City Council |
| VIC | Mornington Peninsula Shire |
| VIC | Mount Alexander Shire Council |
| VIC | City of Port Phillip |
| VIC | Strathbogie Shire Council |
| VIC | Stonnington City Council |
| VIC | Rural City of Wangaratta |
| VIC | Warrnambool City Council |
| VIC | Wyndham City Council |
| VIC | City of Yarra |
| VIC | Yarra Ranges Council |
| TAS | Brighton Council |
| TAS | Northern Midlands Council |
| TAS | Huon Valley Council |
| TAS | Glamorgan Spring Bay |
Local Governments that are members of Global Covenant of Mayors
Global Covenant of Mayors or GCoM is the largest global alliance for city climate leadership. GCoM is built upon the commitment of over 10,000 cities and local governments across 6 continents and 139 countries. In total, these cities represent more than 800 million people. By 2030, Global Covenant cities and local governments could collectively reduce 1.3 billion tons of CO2 emissions per year.
In Australia, 26 councils are members of GCoM. To join the GCoM, you need to develop citywide knowledge, goals, and plans that aim at least as high as your country’s own climate protection commitment(s) or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Climate Agreement.
As a partner of the GCoM, you need to undertake the following:
- Develop a community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory
- Assess climate risks and vulnerabilities
- Define ambitious climate mitigation, resilience and energy targets
- Create full climate action plans
| STATE | LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
|---|---|
| ACT | Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) |
| NSW | Byron Shire |
| NSW | Newcastle |
| NSW | Penrith |
| NSW | Sydney |
| NSW | Tweed Shire |
| NSW | Wollongong |
| SA | Adelaide |
| SA | Mount Barker |
| TAS | Hobart Australia |
| VIC | Darebin City Council |
| VIC | Glen Eira |
| VIC | Hobsons Bay City Council |
| VIC | Manningham |
| VIC | Maribyrnong |
| VIC | Melbourne |
| VIC | Melton |
| VIC | Moreland |
| VIC | Mornington Peninsula Shire |
| VIC | Port Phillip |
| VIC | Wyndham City Council |
| VIC | Yarra |
| WA | Joondalup |
| WA | Mandurah |
| WA | Melville |
| WA | Perth |
Local Governments that are members of C40
C40 is a network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change. C40 supports cities to collaborate effectively, share knowledge and drive meaningful, measurable and sustainable action on climate change. In Australia, Melbourne and Sydney are members.
If you need help with your own target or plan
100% Renewables are experts in helping local governments and communities develop renewable energy and carbon targets and strategies. If you need help with developing a target and plan that takes your unique situation into consideration, please contact Barbara or Patrick.
Any changes?
Please let us know if there are any commitments that are missing, or if any commitment needs a correction.
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