Clean Energy Future

Yarra City Council has been recognised as Victoria’s first carbon neutral Council under the Australian Government’s National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS).

Yarra is only the second council in Australia – after the City of Sydney – to receive carbon neutral certification from NCOS.

The important milestone celebrates the council’s journey towards long-term sustainability.

Yarra City is working towards a goal of reducing the council’s total annual energy use by 50 per cent and generating 25 per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2015.

Mayor Jackie Fristacky said becoming carbon neutral by 2012 was a goal the council set for itself in 2008 when drafting the Yarra Environment Strategy.

“This certification means Yarra City has met Australia’s benchmark for achieving carbon neutrality, and we are delighted to be the first Victorian Council to achieve that status,” she said.

The council has invested in accredited renewable energy projects that offset its emissions, including energy efficient globes in street lights, solar panels and hot water systems in council buildings, and introduced on-site energy creation at the Collingwood Leisure Centre.

Low Carbon Australia CEO Meg McDonald praised Yarra for its leadership and commitment in attaining certification.

“Yarra City Council is proof of what can be achieved with strong community leadership and strategic direction,” she said.

Established by the Australian Government in July 2010, the National Carbon Offset Standard sets transparent requirements for calculating, auditing and offsetting the carbon footprint of an organisation so it can achieve ‘carbon neutrality’.

For more information, visit the National Carbon Offset Standard