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Climate Change

The Australian climate is changing, and the City of Bayswater is actively developing and adopting strategies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to help minimise the severity of climate change, while making sure we are adapting to inevitable changes.

Climate change has the potential to affect our everyday lives, however every household, school and business has the capacity to do something about their carbon emissions. The City is leading the charge by participating in a range of initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, energy and water use, and encouraging the community to do the same.

Global warming Global warming

WHAT THE CITY IS DOING

On 26 April 2022 Council unanimously adopted the Environment and Liveability Framework (ELF). The ELF was written in strong collaboration with a panel of local experts residing within the City of Bayswater and guides the City towards a sustainable future. The ELF sets the strategic direction for the natural and built environment until 2050 and embeds the principles of sustainability into everything the City does.

The ELF will drive the City to be strategic in order to address upcoming challenges, including climate change, community expectations, population growth and emerging technologies.

Relevant environmental policies that are informing the ELF include:

Environment and Liveability Framework

On 24 August 2021 Bayswater Council endorsed an Emissions Reduction and Renewable Energy (ERRE) Plan that will see it take action to mitigate the effects of climate change at a local level.

The plan enables the City to cost-effectively increase the amount of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its facilities. As part of this plan the City has set itself the following ambitious targets:

  • 100% renewable electricity for the City’s operations, excluding street lighting, by 2025.
  • 100% renewables and/or carbon offsets for all City energy use, including street lighting, by 2030.
  • Net zero greenhouse gases for the City energy-related and value chain emissions by 2040.

In recent years the City has been installing solar PV systems at many of its facilities to decrease the City's reliance on fossil fuels. The following link shows the current production of the City's solar PV systems combined.

Current solar PV production on City buildings

    HOW YOU CAN REDUCE EMISSIONS

    We also encourage you to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. There are a number of small changes you can make that will make a big difference to the environment:

    • Reduce the amount of energy you use in your home - turn off lights in rooms you aren't using and turn power switches off at the wall
    • Use public transport, walk or cycle as often as you can
    • Buy locally - this not only supports local businesses, but reduces greenhouse gas emissions
    • Air travel is a big source of greenhouse gas emissions, but most airlines let you pay to off-set your travel emissions
    • Recycle, reuse and upcycle as much as possible
    • Use solar hot water systems, rather than electric
    • Wash your clothes on the cold cycle
    • Don't use disposable coffee cups nor single-use plastics where possible
    • Aim for a few meat-free days per week. Meat production results in high levels of methane gas being emitted into the atmosphere
    • Look at energy reduction strategies for your office - consider reducing travel to meetings by using Skype, turn off overhead lights, turn computers off overnight, limit printing, and recycle.

    Share your ideas with your friends, family and work colleagues. We can all work together to make a positive impact on the environment!

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