NET ZERO FRAMEWORK ON PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Residents are encouraged to have their say on Dubbo Regional Council’s (DRC) draft Net Zero Framework, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Council operations by 2050.
The Framework has been developed with a focus on Council’s Carbon Footprint; Priority Areas for Action; Net Zero Targets and Data Monitoring Plan and is structured around the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change guidance for setting and achieving net zero commitments.
“The Framework aims to strengthen Council’s commitment to addressing climate change, with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across operations by 2050,” Dubbo Regional Council Organisational Sustainability Coordinator Catriona Jennings said.
“It will also assist Council to meet the local communities environmental aspirations to achieve net zero emissions as outlined within the Towards 2040 Community Strategy Plan.”
Additional benefits of the Framework for the local community may include reduced Council operating costs through the adoption of emission reduction goals with a focus on improving Council energy efficiency, adopting renewable energy, transitioning to zero-emission vehicles and adopting best practices in waste and supply chain management as well as circular economy opportunities for new businesses in our region.
“As part of the Framework emission reduction goals have been recommended for each of the priority areas, one of which is waste to landfill,” Ms Jennings said.
Council’s leading source of operational emissions currently is waste to landfill, with the waste entering Council’s landfill sites contributing to 62 per cent of Council’s carbon footprint.
“To address this Council is already working with the community to ensure waste is avoided, reused, recycled and recovered before landfill is considered.”
The priority areas for action have been identified based on Council’s carbon footprint, with short, medium and long term emission reduction goals developed according to opportunities for emission reduction.
The Framework has been developed by DRC in conjunction with consultant 100% Renewables and with the support of the NSW Government’s Sustainability Advantage Program.
To have your say on the draft Net Zero Framework visit https://yoursay.dubbo.nsw.gov.au/draft-net-zero-framework.
The exhibition period for the draft Net Zero Framework is open until 9am Tuesday 12 September, before a report will go back to Council.
Last Edited: 23 Aug 2023