Climate Emergency

Climate Emergency and the pathway to Net Zero Emissions

The City of Ryde passed a resolution on the 28 May 2019 acknowledging that we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government; that human induced climate change represents one of the greatest threats to humanity, civilisation and other species; and that it is still possible to prevent the most catastrophic outcomes if societies, including local councils, take emergency action.

In response to the climate emergency, and our commitment to reducing emissions, climate change impacts the City of Ryde has developed a draft Net Zero Emissions Pathway to plan for a sustainable future. Presented to council on the 28 August 2022 this plan recognises the steps Council has already undertaken to reduce emissions and outlines a strategy for achieving Net Zero emissions for both Council’s operations and the community. 

What has Council done already?

Some of the steps which Council has already undertaken to move towards Net Zero Emissions for the Community include:

Community emissions icons

Some of the steps which Council has already undertaken to move towards Net Zero Emissions for its own operations include:

Council emissions icons

Strategy’s and targets adopted in response to the climate emergency include:

Sustainable Transport Strategy 2022- 2023 - adopted on 26 April 2022
Encourages the uptake of active and more sustainable transport choices contributing to lowering our City’s emissions from transport and improve air quality, urban mobility, health and wellbeing, while providing community and Council with practical information to achieve more sustainable transport outcomes that will benefit us all. It complements the City’s new overarching Integrated Transport Strategy.

100% Renewable Energy Target (RET) by 2030 - adopted on 14 April 2020
In support of the RET, Resource Efficiency Targets for certain categories of new buildings, equipment and appliance were also adopted. 

On 28 November 2017, the City of Ryde passed a motion to divest from fossil fuel aligned investments in our council portfolio and are currently at 26.9% as at 31 Oct 2020 of our total portfolio.

Working in partnership with others

The City of Ryde is also a member of the Cities Power Partnership. The Cities Power Partnership is a network of 70 local governments that pledge to introduce clean energy technology, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and other climate solutions to their respective local communities. The Cities Power Partnership has recently prepared a report Clean jobs for communities: How local governments can create sustainable, strong economies showing how local governments can deliver and advocate for opportunities to ensure an economic recovery that empowers communities and creates a sustainable and prosperous future. 

Council also participated in SSROC’s renewable energy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) together with 18 other Councils. This PPA will supply Council’s large electricity sites with around 20% of their energy load as renewable energy from the Moree Solar Farm project, with the balance of their retail electricity needs being supplied as regular grid electricity.