Yarra Council achieves carbon neutral certification for 7th consecutive year
Friday 28 December 2018
For the seventh consecutive year, Yarra has been awarded with gold-standard carbon neutral certification.
Yarra is one of just five Australian councils to achieve carbon neutral status through the Federal Government’s National Carbon Offset Standard.
We were the first council in Victoria to receive this recognition in 2011/12, and one of the first in the world to declare a climate emergency in 2017.
To be considered carbon neutral, we were assessed on our carbon (or greenhouse gas) emissions from all our operations and resources, including electricity, fuel, gas and even paper usage. Emissions from our contractors – such as garbage collectors – were also assessed.
To neutralise these emissions, we purchase carbon offsets from Thailand’s Kalasin Wastewater Treatment to Energy Project. This project treats wastewater from a starch factory to produce clean water, generate electricity, and reduce air pollution. It also creates employment and provides free fertilisers to local farmers.
In 2017/18, our greenhouse gas emissions were 409 tonnes lower than the previous year’s emissions, and were 38% lower than those in 2001.
Yarra recognises that climate change is an extraordinary crisis, and has committed to urgent action to respond to the global climate emergency.
Read more about Yarra’s sustainability initiatives
Yarra is one of just five Australian councils to achieve carbon neutral status through the Federal Government’s National Carbon Offset Standard.
We were the first council in Victoria to receive this recognition in 2011/12, and one of the first in the world to declare a climate emergency in 2017.
To be considered carbon neutral, we were assessed on our carbon (or greenhouse gas) emissions from all our operations and resources, including electricity, fuel, gas and even paper usage. Emissions from our contractors – such as garbage collectors – were also assessed.
To neutralise these emissions, we purchase carbon offsets from Thailand’s Kalasin Wastewater Treatment to Energy Project. This project treats wastewater from a starch factory to produce clean water, generate electricity, and reduce air pollution. It also creates employment and provides free fertilisers to local farmers.
In 2017/18, our greenhouse gas emissions were 409 tonnes lower than the previous year’s emissions, and were 38% lower than those in 2001.
Yarra recognises that climate change is an extraordinary crisis, and has committed to urgent action to respond to the global climate emergency.
Read more about Yarra’s sustainability initiatives