Decision details

To Council:

When we switched to 100 per cent renewable electricity in July 2020, we not only reduced our emissions by 20,000 tonnes a year and enabled the City of Sydney to reach our 2030 target of reducing emissions by 70 per cent six years early in 2024, we also saved our ratepayers half a million dollars every year.

And in enabling new green infrastructure, we created jobs: 200 jobs during construction and 150 ongoing jobs at the Sapphire Wind Farm in Glen Innes; 250 jobs during construction and 150 ongoing jobs at the Bomen Solar Farm in Wagga Wagga; and another 50 jobs at the Shoalhaven Solar Farm.

The City has been at the forefront of taking action to mitigate global warming. In February 2020, we announced that we would be bringing forward our net zero emissions target by a decade, from 2050 to 2040. 

NSW Government now leading the way on renewables for our State

The NSW Government’s ambitious plan to make our state a renewable energy superpower provides a welcome support to the City meeting our target.

Minister Kean’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap provides the foundation for a green led recovery. The establishment of renewable energy zones will make NSW a green energy powerhouse, attracting $32 billion in private sector investment, cementing the move away from our reliance on coal fired power and delivering cheaper electricity for businesses and households. It also creates jobs in regional areas.

Importantly, this initiative has bipartisan support.

The NSW Government leadership stands in stark contrast to the Federal Government’s ‘gas-led recovery’ plans - a proposal that will drastically increase greenhouse emissions and jeopardise any hope that Australia could play a meaningful part in the effort to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees.

A national target for net-zero and a green-led recovery

Last week, the Independent Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall, introduced into Federal Parliament the Climate Change (National Framework for and Mitigation) Bill 2020. This legislation provides the opportunity for a new bipartisan consensus for the country to address the challenge of accelerating global warming and meet our Paris Accord obligations.

This national framework will provide:

1.           An Independent Climate Change Commission to oversee the transition.

2.           An economy-wide net-zero target by 2050.

3.           Economy-wide emissions budgets and national plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

4.           A National Climate Risk Assessment and plans for adapting to changing climate.

5.           Transparent monitoring, reporting on progress, and plans.

The national framework outlined in this legislation is critical to supporting a green led recovery by providing business with certainty on our national climate policy. Australia is fast becoming an international climate pariah under our current policy – and this will only hasten under the results of the US Election.

Recommendation

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council endorse:

(i)          the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap announced by the NSW Minister for Environment and Energy; and

(ii)         the Climate Change (National Framework for and Mitigation) Bill 2020 introduced to Federal Parliament by the Independent Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall OAM, MP; and

(B)        the Lord Mayor be requested to:

(i)          write to the Minister for Energy and the Environment Matt Kean in support of the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap; and

(ii)         write to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition urging them to support the Climate Change (National Framework for and Mitigation) Bill 2020.

COUNCILLOR CLOVER MOORE

Lord Mayor

Moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Scott –

That the Minute be endorsed and adopted.

Variation. At the request of Councillor Scott, and by consent, the Minute was varied, such that it read as follows –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council endorse:

(i)          the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap announced by the NSW Minister for Environment and Energy with the following provisions to gaps in the current policy:

(a)        consideration of how the more than 15,000 MW/15GW of renewable energy projects already with planning approval or currently seeking planning approval that are located outside one of the currently designated three Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) will fit into the Government’s renewable Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, and in particular the development of new transmission capacity;

(b)        surety of transmission capacity development to make sure the coordination of the development and delivery of new generation storage, firming and transmission assets ensures the grid keeps pace with the roll-out of renewable energy projects under the NSW Government’s policy; 

(c)         inclusion of firm details in the legislation on how the procurement spend will benefit NSW suppliers and drive job creation; and

(d)        readjustment of the proposed REZ boundaries to ensure support and benefits for the communities in the Hunter Valley and the Illawarra that will bear the brunt of any early closures of coal-fired power stations; and

(ii)         the Climate Change Bill 2020 introduced to Federal Parliament by the Independent Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall OAM, MP as a constructive effort to progress climate action, and note that for the Bill to be considered, the Federal Government would need to allow a full debate in the Parliament;

(B)        the Lord Mayor be requested to:

(i)          write to the Minister for Energy and the Environment Matt Kean in support of the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap; and

(ii)         write to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition urging them to support the Climate Change Bill 2020; and

(C)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to prepare and lodge a submission from the City of Sydney to the Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy on the Climate Change Bill 2020.

The Minute, as varied by consent, was carried unanimously.

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