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Moreland adopts new community climate targets: 75% emissions cut by 2030, net zero by 2035, Drawdown by 2040

December 10, 2021 at 1:53 am John Englart Leave a comment

At the Moreland Council meeting on 8 December Moreland Council briefly debated and adopted new climate targets: both community targets and Council Operations targets. Moreland had previously adoped a net zero by 2040 community target at Council meeting in September 2018.

The Council Officer recommendation was adopted for community emissions

a) 75 per cent emissions reduction by 2030
b) Net zero by 2035
c) Drawdown (‘negative emissions’) by 2040

Council Officers put forward two options for a community target:

Option 1 – 75 percent emissions reduction by 2030 (on 2011/12 baseline)
Option 2 – Zero carbon by 2030 (that is, 100 percent reduction)

There is reasonable rationale for adoption of either target. They both clearly support and reflect a heightened ambition to see drastic emissions reduction this decade across Moreland and Australia, and they both align with climate science and climate justice principles.
Since the municipality’s emissions are primarily from energy (electricity, gas), transport (petrol, diesel) and waste (organics sent to landfill), achievement of either 2030 target will require very substantive action and system change by Council, our community and businesses as well as other levels of government and civil society.

Moreland Council Agenda – 7.4 ZERO CARBON MORELAND – 2030 TARGETS REVIEW

A more nuanced target of 75% emissions reduction target by 2030, net zero by 2035, negative emissions by 2040, takes into account community emissions reduction will depend upon state government and Federal Government policy levers. This especially applies for Energy (electricity and gas) emissions and transport emissions.

New Council Operations emissions target aims for 80-100% by 2030

Council has already achieved 70% council operations emissions reduction on 2011 levels, and set an operations target of 80-100% emissions reduction by 2030. It identified achieving this target through accelerated transition to EVs in Council’s light vehicle fleet and accelerated transition of gas phaseout in Council facilities. Some difficult areas will remain such as transition of large vehicle fleet (eg garbage trucks), but battery technology is advancing to convert these in next decade while maintaining performance capacity. This transition is dependant on adequate funding allocation (up to $16 million).

Council motion

Officer Recommendation
That Council:

1. Notes the summary of updated climate science and the advice regarding the extent of emissions reductions required by 2030 to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C (above pre-industrial levels), alive.
   
2. Notes that the Zero Carbon Moreland (ZCM) 2040 Framework (ZCM Framework) and associated 5-year ZCM Climate Emergency Action Plan (endorsed in November 2019) are providing a solid foundation for Council to continue demonstrating local government leadership in responding to the climate crisis through:
   
   a) progressively eliminating emissions from Council’s own operations
   b) inspiring and enabling community and businesses to reduce emissions, with a focus on ensuring equity and co-benefits such as community health and resilience
   c) facilitating collective advocacy calling for urgent and effective action by state and federal government.
   
3. Endorses interim and aspirational ZCM targets for the Moreland community:
   a) 75 per cent emissions reduction by 2030
   b) Net zero by 2035
   c) Drawdown (‘negative emissions’) by 2040
   
4. Call on our community, businesses, state and federal governments to join Council in collective action towards these community targets and the safe and fair future that success would help to achieve.
   
5. Endorses the additional highly ambitious ZCM ‘target range’ for Council (corporate/operational) emissions:
   • 80 – 100 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 (precluding offsets, against 2011/12 baseline). Note: Council has taken significant actions to reduce its operational emissions by 70 per cent from the 2011/12 baseline and that Council has been certified as ‘carbon neutral’ (or ‘net zero’) since 2012 under the national Climate Active scheme, whereby Council annually purchases carbon offsets for all its remaining emissions.
   
6. Note the following conditions related to achievement of corporate emissions target:
   a) Achievement of 80 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 is contingent on additional funding allocation and re-scoped capital works forward plan (to bring forward a transition of Council’s light fleet to zero emissions and converting approximately 27 Council buildings to ‘all electric’). High-level cost estimate to deliver these actions may be up to $16M over the 9 years to 2030.
   b) Progress beyond 80 per cent, towards 100 per cent reduction (the upper end of the target range) is also contingent on commercialisation and availability before 2030 of suitable new or emerging technologies (that is, zero emissions waste trucks and construction materials).
   
7. Pending adoption of corporate ZCM target range, develop business cases for referral to the 2022/23 budget process and consideration within Council’s long term financial plan (i.e., to enable accelerated transition to zero emissions light feet and accelerated transition off gas in Council buildings)
   
8. Endorse revisions to the ZCM Framework and Climate Emergency Action Plan as necessary to reflect the newly endorsed targets.
   
9. Acknowledges and thanks all community members, including those involved in the Moreland Climate Coalition, that are acting and advocating for the many local and regional and national systems changes required to ensure a safe, fair and resilient Moreland into the future.

Reference:

Moreland Council Agenda 8 December 2021 – 7.4 Zero Carbon Moreland – 2030 Targets Review

Entry filed under: gas transition, Moreland Council, news. Tags: climate targets, Moreland Council.