The City of Stonnington is committed to immediate and urgent action on climate change. While reducing our own emissions to help mitigate climate change is a priority for Council, we also play a key role in supporting our community to reduce its carbon footprint. Our target is to reach net zero emissions by 2030 for both our own and community emissions.
To achieve this, we are focusing on three key areas:
- Reducing our own corporate emissions
- Supporting our community to reduce emissions
- Avoiding waste and facilitating resource recovery
What we're doing
To reduce our own environmental footprint, we are working on actions under the following categories.
Zero carbon energy
As of 2021, Council now purchases all of its electricity through the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO). This means we are using 100 per cent GreenPower across all Council facilities. To further reduce our emissions from energy use, our top priority is to transition away from gas to be fully electric.
While we will continue to transition our smaller sites away from gas to all-electric and work on improving the energy efficiency of our facilities, our largest gas consumers are our two pools, Harold Holt Swim Centre and Prahran Aquatic Centre. We are working towards developing all-electric designs for both sites over the coming years.
Zero carbon fleet
Council is progressively transitioning its light and medium fleet to electric vehicles (EV) as the EV market develops.
While we are already in the process of replacing light and medium fleet vehicles with electric or hybrid versions, it will take longer for us to electrify our heavy fleet vehicles as appropriate options are not yet available.
Carbon offsets
To achieve zero emissions for all Council operations, the key focus will be on the steps outlined above. For any remaining emissions in 2030, Council will investigate the purchase of offsets. We will develop an emissions offsets policy to ensure that any offsets purchased are of the highest integrity.
Zero waste and a circular economy
Council is committed to reducing waste and transitioning to a circular economy. Visit our Waste and Recycling page for more information on what we’re doing in this space.
Project Spotlight
Council recently installed four new EV chargers across two key sites to support our growing EV fleet, thanks to a $55,000 grant from the Victorian Government’s Electric Vehicle Charging for Council Fleet program. We have also recently purchased several electric trucks for our Parks team and even a small waste collections truck.
What you can do
We understand that the Stonnington community needs assistance from Council to achieve zero net carbon emissions. We will work with our community and local businesses, as well as with industry and state and federal governments, to achieve a zero carbon future. To get there, we are working on the following actions.
Zero carbon energy
We are supporting our community to improve energy efficiency, install rooftop solar, purchase renewable energy, and transition from gas to electricity by providing information, education, and programs. Find out more by visiting our save energy page.
Council also advocates to the state and federal governments on improving energy regulation, policy, and incentives via the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA). Read more about EAGA’s advocacy work.
Zero carbon transport
We are supporting our community to transition away from fossil-fuelled cars to more sustainable transport modes including public transport, active transport, e-bikes, car share schemes and electric vehicles.
Find out more by visiting our getting around Stonnington page.
Zero carbon business
We are supporting the Stonnington business community to improve energy efficiency, install rooftop solar, and transition from gas to electricity through information, education, and Green Loans.
Find out how you can run a sustainable business.
Zero carbon and resilient developments
We are driving strong environmentally sustainable design standards for new buildings in Stonnington. We are aiming for new developments that produce zero net emissions, better manage water and waste, support sustainable transport, increase greening and biodiversity, and are more resilient to a changing climate.
In 2022, Stonnington and 23 other Victorian local governments lodged a planning scheme amendment with the Victorian Government, seeking to introduce planning policy that elevates sustainability requirements for new buildings and encourages net zero carbon development. For more information, visit the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) website.
Council also advocates for planning scheme improvements via the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA). Learn more about EAGA’s advocacy work.
Learn more about incorporating sustainability in your planning application.