Sustainability in the City of Melbourne

Introduction

The planet’s environment is warming up and our seas are acidifying at disturbing rates since we consume excessively fossil fuel. Essentially, in the event that we need to illuminate environmental change we should go ‘net zero’ – basically eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions by middle of the century

The good news is that there are myriad solutions and innovations to help us tackle climate change.  Energy efficiency, smart urban design and 100% clean technologies, like solar, geothermal, tidal and wind and rapidly displacing fossil fuels.

Purpose and justification

This approach is a piece of City of Melbourne’s intend to create techniques to be one of the world’s most green urban communities. Achieving zero net emissions will include;

• Substantial structural
• Economic change
• Policy change in Melbourne to drive an increase in energy efficiency
• Decrease in use of carbon intensive fuel sources
• Offsetting any remaining emissions

The future vision for the City of Melbourne is of a flourishing and maintainable city that all the while seeks after monetary thriving, social value and ecological quality. A key component of this vision is to urge individuals to live in the city. Through dynamic consolation of private improvement and by giving a focal point of culture and diversion, the City of Melbourne has made an appealing area for Melburnians to live. From an entire of-Melbourne point of view, this vision can possibly help with decreasing general emissions as it evacuates or altogether lessens the requirement for occupants to utilize an engine vehicle for work, amusement or shopping purposes.

Objective(s)

• Become a carbon neutral city

Being carbon neutral implies that the net greenhouse gas emissions related with an association’s or city’s, activities are equivalent to zero. It is accomplished through a blend of measuring and decreasing greenhouse gas discharges and acquiring of carbon offsets. Zero net emissions and carbon neutral are terms that can be utilized reciprocally.

• Make a striking and sustainable future for the Municipality of Melbourne

Through research and technical analysis, City of Melbourne has distinguished proof based needs, which upgrade the measure of emissions reduction and limit cost. Commercial buildings have the biggest potential to decrease emissions. Residential buildings, transport, waste and energy supply are other key divisions where innovatively practical and financially accessible chances to decrease emissions are obvious.

Example;

• For council operations and leadership-Maintain carbon neutrality, reduce greenhouse gas by 10%.

Need to review and measure the effectiveness of the emission reducing initiatives annually.

• Commercial buildings and industry- roughly a 4% increase in energy efficiency per building.

City of Melbourne will display case the potential to create positive-energy buildings, which generate more energy than they use. The later will ease opportunities to drive efficiency outcomes through the design, construction and performance of buildings. Moreover, it will also facilitate ways to overcome the barriers currently preventing action to achieve high performing commercial buildings.

• Residential buildings- launch a long-term target in the implementation plan.

City of Melbourne will bring together multiple parties to develop appropriate, reasonable and available solutions for decreasing emissions from people’s homes.

• Stationary energy supply- 25% of electricity from renewable sources

The city will develop a joint connection with different companies to design and deliver an energy management and supply system for the municipality of Melbourne that:

• Meets the community needs and expectations for energy supply.
• Is safe and secure.
• Is managed and delivered economically and environmentally efficiently.
• Minimises greenhouse gas emissions.
• Supports Melbourne as a prosperous city and premier business location
• Responds to future demands, challenges and changes.

• Transport and freight- Using of low emission transport

City of Melbourne will bring together multiple
parties to develop solutions enabling people to move easily, safely and comfortably using environmentally sustainable transport, and to ensure the city’s private transport network complements the public system.

• Waste management- decrease waste to landfill per resident

• Waste separation and collection

• Implement resource efficiency behaviour change programs targeting residents and the commercial sector.
• Identify optimum waste separation methodologies for residential and commercial sectors.

• Waste treatment

• Work with the Metropolitan Waste Management Group, councils, developers and building owners to develop alternatives to land disposal.
• Explore waste-to-energy solutions, in partnership with key players and industry.

Success criteria

Speed of limitation

Cost effectiveness

Leadership and Visibility

Community support and awareness

Innovation and Technology

Co-benefits

Assumptions and constraints

• Assumptions;

Future population

Economic growth

• Constraints;

These climate changes will impact business and the broader community.

Melbourne is predicted to be significantly affected by warmer temperatures, heat waves and intense storm events.

High level project description

Significant progress were made by City Of Melbourne in order to become a zero net emissions.  These projects have been realised in year 2003, namely:

• Queen Victoria Market Solar array installed
• City of Melbourne replacing old style recycling crates with mobile recycling bins
• Established the sustainable Melbourne Fund
• First Victorian Wind Farm
• Certified carbon neutral for its council
• Completion of the Swanston Street redevelopment increasing public transport and cycling access

High level risks

• Australia/ City of Melbourne is at risk of being socially and financially not ready for the changes that will happen in the near future.
• Flood risks exist in zones near the Yarra and Maribyrnong

Summary milestone

Melbourne will turn into a zero-net emitter of greenhouse gasses by decreasing its emissions and sourcing all its energy from renewable sources. Thus resulting in an eco-city and decent to live in.

Summary budget

To be investigated

Stakeholder list

Reducing Melbourne’s greenhouse gas emissions and working to become a zero-net emissions city requires collaboration from everyone in our community. A comprehensive, forward-thinking approach right now is crucial to implement the sustainable energy, infrastructure, transport and waste systems required to reduce our growing emissions. Therefore, major milestones can be accomplished by collaborating diligently with stakeholders like;

• Victorian Government Departments
• Energy Companies
• Regulators
• Property Developers
• Transport Providers
• Education institutions and researches
• Non-government organisations
• Industry associations
• Other Local Councils

Approval requirements

Building and planning approval

Need to investigate deeply

PM authority on staffing, technical decision, conflict resolution, budget management

Initiating, planning, control and monitoring and closure