People power the key to tackling climate change

Wollongong City Council’s Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2030 outlines a whole-of-community approach to reducing local greenhouse gas emissions.

The draft was unveiled last month with community members encouraged to share their feedback during the 40-day public exhibition. This document builds on an earlier plan adopted in late 2020 which, among other things, saw Council introduce the Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) collection, upgrade the streetlight network to energy efficient LED lighting, and enter into a long-term renewable energy supply contract. Read: Powering Wollongong to a brighter future

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said with technology and opportunities constantly improving, Council’s approach needs to be similarly adaptive.

“Think of it like a book series. The last plan introduced the key characters and set the scene, this one builds on successes, refines, and prioritises actions that we can take right now based on the current situation. Future plans will continue to review and adapt those actions until we reach net zero,” he said.

“This draft Plan introduces a 2030 interim target to reduce community emissions by 50 per cent. This reflects the urgency and will help us to prioritise actions right now that will have the earliest and greatest impact.”

Actions in the draft Plan are split into three sections: Actions for the community, Council actions that empower the community, and Council actions to lead by example.

“This isn’t a council plan, it’s a plan for everyone who lives or works in Wollongong, and those who visit our region. Together is the only way we can reach a net zero Wollongong,” said Cr Bradbery.

“Community actions and facilitating those are the headline of this draft Plan because households make up around 30 per cent of Wollongong’s electricity and gas consumption. Installing rooftop solar, upgrading to LED lighting, switching to energy efficient appliances, and utilising low or no carbon transport are steps we can all take to reduce our emissions.”

For information and resources, visit Electrify Wollongong

“When lots of people take small actions, the impacts are magnified across the city.

“Many of these actions will result in added benefits like cheaper household bills and improved wellbeing. If we can work together to learn what relatively simple steps are needed then when the time comes to, for example, replace their appliances or upgrade their lighting people are informed as to what are the best steps to take.

“Aside from empowering the community, Council will lead by example through a series of actions, such as transitioning our fleet to low-carbon vehicles and machinery, to achieve net zero emissions for council operations by 2030.”

Cr Bradbery said early community engagement had laid the foundation for the draft Plan and Council welcomed further input during the formal exhibition stage.

“We asked Wollongong residents for their big and small ideas for reducing emissions. Those ideas formed the actions in this plan. Now we need the community’s help again to refine and action them.”

Get involved:

• Complete the online feedback form on our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au
• Attend the online info session on Tuesday 17 October 2023
• Visit the drop-in session on Tuesday 17 October 2023
• Participate in a Global Climate Change Week activity between 16 and 20 October 2023

More information:

• Draft Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2030
• Summary: Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2030