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Moreland sets zero net community emissions 2040 target

September 19, 2018 at 6:35 pm John Englart 3 comments

Moreland 2040 Framework

As well as acknowledging we are in a state of climate emergency at the Moreland Council meeting on 12 September 2018, there were several other significant policies and resolutions from Council. The most important was setting a long term target of zero net community emissions by 2040.

As well as the long term target and putting in place a framework and five year activity plans to achieve the target, Council’s 2014 Zero Carbon Evolution Strategy with a target of 22 per cent reduction in community emissions by 2020 from a 2011 base, was also revisited. Some areas of this strategy were not performing up to the targets set, so assessments were done of what was working well, and areas that needed to be closely addressed to rejig the plan to keep it on track.

Moreland’s 2014 emissions breakdown

Much can be done in emissions reduction at the local municipal level, but some of the levers for action are dependant on the actions of other levels of government, such as in transport and energy. But there are often avenues for Council to use it’s local powers to leverage change such as the Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy presently being updated (read our submisson), the continuing encouragement to take up solar power through Positive Charge, and its own participation in the power purchasing consortium with other Councils and Institutions to directly finance renewable energy for it’s own energy use.

Strategic Objectives under the 2020 Zero Carbon Evolution refresh plan include:

1. Generating local renewable energy
2. Using Less energy
3. Low emissions transport
4. Minimising the urban heat island effect
5. Activating our community to reduce emissions

Council has already established a public Electric Vehicle charging network in Moreland, and has Electric and Hybrid vehicles as part of it’s light vehicle Fleet. New emissions standards were set At the Council meeting in September for new vehicle purchases in this fleet, which substantially reduces average vehicle emissions.

We can also look forward to work starting soon to establish a renewables to hydrogen plant at Council’s Hadfield Depot to provide pollution free fuel to hydrogen fuel cell powered garbage truck fleet.

There is also a draft strategy on waste and litter reduction going through final stages after consultation which will set a zero waste to landfill target by 2030. This will save substantial emissions, and also substantially reduce the landfill charges that Council pays.

Councillor Dale Martin summed up the climate actions in this Facebook post:

Moreland’s emission reduction strategy is based on a carbon budget approach, which also should be applied at the state government and national levels. This is a science based approach of setting equitable targets:

Moreland’s carbon budget

Moreland’s carbon budget 2020 target

Moreland’s emissions by sector:

Moreland’s 2014 emissions by sector

Moreland Council have a range of policies and strategies already addressing climate action through mitigation and adaptation. This graphic provides some relationship detail between the various policies and strategies. Moreland Council staff are doing further work on policy and strategy governance.

Moreland Council climate action policy framework

The Zero Carbon Evolution 2020 Refresh and Moreland Zero Carbon 2040 Framework are likely to be available for download at the Moreland Zero Carbon website in the near future.

Climate Action Moreland members consult with Moreland Energy Foundation (MEFL) and participate in Brains trust workshops on a regular basis to have input into the development of these policies and strategies.

On the global level

The Global Climate Action Summit has just concluded in San Fransisco. Here is a small excerpt of a final statement calling on National Governments to step up action, and explaining that local municipalities and cities are already taking action to meet the objectives and targets of the Paris Agreement.  Moreland too, is playing it’s part.

Sustainable Communities

Over 70 big cities, home to some 425 million citizens, are now committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, including Accra, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Mexico City.

• These actions alone will lead to a 2.5 percent cut of annual global greenhouse gas emissions and the avoidance of 12 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050.

A further 9,100 cities representing 800 million citizens are now committed to city-wide climate action plans.

This could lead to reductions of more than 60 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent between now and 2050.

• Mayors of over 70 of the world’s key cities reaffirmed their commitment to delivering on the highest ambitions of the Paris Agreement, namely to keep a global temperature rise to below 1.5℃. .

Cities are getting the job done, with other new city commitments that have put key cities on the path towards zero waste, to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions in new and existing buildings; and to deliver inclusive climate action that benefits all citizens equitably.

Entry filed under: Climate Emergency, Moreland Council, news. Tags: carbon budget, City of Moreland, climate targets, Emissions, Moreland.