P1.1Offset corporate greenhouse gas emissions

Council is net carbon neutral in 2023-24

The City of Boroondara is committed to reducing our carbon emissions. Our target has been to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2022 and actual carbon neutrality by 2040.

Net carbon neutrality has been achieved since 2022. Our priorities have been reducing our energy use, generating onsite solar electricity and purchasing 100% green electricity. Council is also working to progressively electrify our fleet and facilities. For those emissions that we have not yet been able to avoid, Council purchases greenhouse offsets.

We will continue to reduce our reliance on greenhouse offsets in order to meet our goal of 100% reduction in emissions without the use of offsets.

Council undertakes an annual inventory of corporate greenhouse gas emissions. Council reports corporate greenhouse gas emissions in the financial year subsequent to the emissions occurring. This allows analysis and review to occur.

For the most recent reporting year of 2023-24, actual carbon emissions were 7,268 tonnes. These emission actually occurred during the 2022-23 financial year.

Council undertook a request for quote process in order to identify the preferred solution to offset these emissions. On the basis of this process Council chose to partner with Greenfleet who are restoring biodiverse forests in the Strzelecki Ranges in Victoria.

You can find out more about this project on the Greenfleet website.

 https://www.greenfleet.com.au/blogs/forest/strzelecki-nature-link

In previous financial years Council has supported biodiverse revegetation projects in the Otways and in Western Australia. Our priorities have been to support projects that generate verifiable carbon sequestration while also providing biodiversity and local social benefits.

you can find out more about GreenPower and Offsets

 https://www.greenpower.gov.au/get-greenpower/how-greenpower-different-carbon-offsets

 https://cer.gov.au/schemes/australian-carbon-credit-unit-scheme

 https://www.climateactive.org.au/what-climate-active/carbon-offsets

 https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/carbon-offsetting-worthwhile/