Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy - Parramatta City Council

PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION
PLAN
A STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE

The Greenhouse Effect and
Parramatta – Our Vision
for the Future
Our Greenhouse Abatement Vision
Parramatta – the Leading City in New South Wales for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and addressing the threat of human-induced global warming.
Our Strategic Outcomes for Greenhouse Abatement
Parramatta will continually reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its own
operations and promote the reduction of emissions from across the local government
area. Council will achieve this outcome by setting aggressive reduction goals, and
will meet these goals through the implementation of innovative actions that
incorporate best practice in energy efficiency.
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Table of Contents
REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS –
THE PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL STRATEGY 4
- Cities for Climate Protection Program 4
- Parramatta City Council’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals 5
- Meeting the Reduction Goals – The Annual Greenhouse Action
Plans 5
- Monitoring Success 8
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM PARRAMATTA CITY
COUNCIL OPERATIONS AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA 9
- Council Emissions 10
- Local Government Area Emissions 12
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING 14
- The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect 14
- The Greenhouse Gases 15
- Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions 16
- Potential Impacts of the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect 17
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Reducing Greenhouse Gas
Emissions – The Parramatta City
Council Strategy
Parramatta City Council is committed to reducing the level of greenhouse gases
emitted from its own operations and the local government area, and has decided to
take a strategic approach to the emissions reduction process. A key component of
this approach is Council’s participation in the Cities for Climate Protection Program.
Cities for Climate Protection Program
The Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Program is a global initiative designed
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from local government and the community.
The program is administered by the International Council for Local Government
Initiatives in association with the Australian Greenhouse Office, and is based on
the achievement of five strategic milestones:
Milestone 1:
Milestone 2:
Milestone 3:
Milestone 4:
Milestone 5:
Preparation of an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions for
both corporate (Council) and community activities for a baseline
year, and forecast of growth in emissions to the Year 2010
adopting a 'business as usual' scenario.
Setting of an emissions reduction goal.
Preparation and adoption of a Local Greenhouse Action Plan
documenting measures to be undertaken to achieve the
reduction goal.
Implementation of the Local Greenhouse Action Plan
Monitoring and reporting on the implementation, and review
of the Local Greenhouse Action Plan
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Parramatta City Council joined the CCP program in December 1999 at which time
a resolution was passed by Council to commit to the strategic Milestone framework.
Council achieved Milestone 1 of the CCP program in November 2001 following
completion of its baseline emissions inventory and emissions growth forecast.
Council subsequently achieved Milestone 2 of the Program in May 2002 following
endorsement of a series of targets to bring about a reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions.
Parramatta City Council’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals
Parramatta City Council’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is
demonstrated through the reduction goals it has set for its own operations and the
Local Government Area (LGA). Endorsed by Council in May 2002 to meet the
Milestone 2 requirements of the CCP Program, the goals are aggressive by
worldwide standards, and establish Parramatta City Council as a leader in
addressing the issue of global warming.
Parramatta City Council
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals
(1) To reduce Council greenhouse gas emissions from 1998-1999 levels by
40 per cent by 2010
(2) To reduce local government area greenhouse gas emissions from 1998
levels by 20 per cent by 2010 as a default CCP target. The goal will be
subject to revision following consultation with the community and other
stakeholders.
Meeting the Reduction Goals – The Annual Greenhouse Action Plans
The primary means by which Parramatta City Council works toward meeting the
reduction goals is through the development and implementation of Annual
Greenhouse Action Plans. The Plans are developed as part of Council’s annual
planning process, and set out the energy and greenhouse initiatives Council will
implement over the coming twelve months.
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The actions developed as part of each Annual Greenhouse Action Plan can be
categorised into one or more of the following strategic action groups:
Employee Education
• Including energy and greenhouse management as part of the routine
organisation training provided to new employees
• Educating current employees on energy efficiency and greenhouse management
principles so they may become energy-efficiency advocates and individual
leaders in environmental management in their community
Council Policy Development and Review
• Developing new policies and adjusting existing policies and processes within
Council to become more aligned with Council’s greenhouse-gas reduction
initiatives.
Management Systems Development
• Developing management frameworks to capture, review and respond to Council’s
energy and greenhouse gas emissions performance results
• Incorporating energy efficiency into existing Council management frameworks
Infrastructure Development and Modification
• Incorporating energy efficient design during routine upgrades and overhauls of
Council’s assets and infrastructure
• Modifying existing Council infrastructure (such as buildings, and vehicle fleet) to
incorporate energy efficiency principles
Community Education
• Developing education resources to raise the awareness of energy and
greenhouse issues across the LGA
• Promoting community-driven solutions, knowledge and awareness to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions
• Identifying and developing strategies for community cost savings and income
generation in the pursuit of reducing LGA greenhouse gas emissions
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Industry and Other Partnerships
• Providing information to industry within the LGA about reducing energy use and
greenhouse gas emissions from their own operations
• Forming alliances with key industry groups and representatives to improve the
uptake of emissions-reducing initiatives across the LGA
• Forming alliances with key players in sustainable energy industries to provide
better Council and industry access to new ideas and technologies
• Developing strategies to enhance a regional approach to reducing greenhouse
gas emissions with other local Councils involved in the CCP Program
These groups form the basis for Council’s approach to meeting its reduction goals.
Each Annual Greenhouse Action Plan contains initiatives covering all of the strategic
action groups.
Council recognises that successfully engaging the community and industry in
working to reduce LGA emissions is reliant on Council first establishing ‘greenhouse
credibility’ by achieving reductions in its own operations. Consequently the Annual
Action Plans covering the first few years of Council’s greenhouse gas abatement
program focus heavily on reducing emissions from Council operations.
The initial Plans will also include initiatives relating to the formation of partnerships
with key LGA groups, with future Plans focused on the revision of LGA reduction
goals and implementation of LGA greenhouse initiatives.
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Monitoring Success
The success of Parramatta’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan is measured through
regular monitoring of progress against the reduction targets. This monitoring involves
a combination of regular reviews of energy consumption, together with periodic
reassessment of greenhouse gas emissions from Council operations and the LGA.
The data collected from this ongoing monitoring provides Council with an accurate
‘snapshot’ of current energy and greenhouse performance. This information is
invaluable when developing relevant and effective Annual Greenhouse Action Plans.
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions from
Parramatta City Council
Operations and the
Local Government Area
Parramatta City Council conducted a study in 2001 to determine the source and
volume of greenhouse gases generated from its own operations and from across the
LGA. The outcome of the study was the development of an inventory of greenhouse
gas emissions and energy use for Council and the LGA. The inventory was
completed for the base years of 1998-1999 for the Council sector, and 1998 for the
LGA sector. A forecast of emissions growth to 2010 was also completed, based on a
‘business as usual’ scenario. The results of the study are summarised below.
Note: All greenhouse gas emissions are converted to units of carbon dioxide
equivalent (CO 2 -e ) so that gases of different strengths can be compared and added
together. For example, one unit of methane equals 21 CO 2- e .
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Council Emissions
The emissions inventory for the Council sector was divided into five categories:
1) Buildings – This sector accounts for emissions from Council owned and
operated buildings.
2) Vehicle Fleet – This sector accounts for emissions from fuel use of the
Council’s vehicles and plant machinery.
3) Street Lighting – This sector accounts for emissions resulting from street
lighting, including Country Energy/Great Southern Energy street lighting and
Council decorative/park lighting.
4) Water – This sector accounts for emissions resulting from the energy used to
pump water for reticulation on Council owned property.
5) Waste – This sector accounts for emissions that result from the breakdown of
organic waste
Total emissions produced by Council
during 1998-1999 - 12,404 tonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalent (CO 2 -e)
Largest specific emitters of greenhouse
gases from Council assets/facilities - Streetlights (5,928 tonnes of
CO 2 -e)
- Darcy St Admin Building
(1,125 tonnes of CO 2 -e)
- Council Chambers & Hall
(639 tonnes of CO 2 -e)
- Council’s passenger
vehicles (602 tonnes of
CO 2 -e)
- Parramatta Library (450
tonnes of CO 2 -e)
Primary energy source of greenhouse
gas emissions from Council operations - Electricity (86%)
Expected emissions in 2010 - 12,773 tonnes of CO 2 -e (3%
increase from 1998-1999)
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Waste
>1%
Water
>1%
Buildings
39%
Streetlights
49%
Vehicle Fleet
12%
Break-up of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by operating area from Parramatta City Council
Operations during 1998-1999
7000
6000
5927.8
6126.7
5000
4872.9
5127.6
Equvalent CO 2 (Tonnes)
4000
3000
2000
1526.6
1439.1
1000
0
-1000
33.8 35.5 -30 -30
Buildings Vehicle Fleet Streetlights Water Waste
Sector
Equivalent CO2 (tonnes) 1998/1999 Equivalent CO2 (tonnes) 2010
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Parramatta City Council Operations during 1998-1999,
and Forecast of Emissions Growth to 2010 (CO 2 Tonnes)
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Local Government Area Emissions
The emissions inventory for the LGA sector was divided into five categories. These
categories, and the associated emissions were:
1) Residential - 336,064 tonnes of CO 2 -e
2) Commercial - 343,713 tonnes of CO 2 -e
3) Industrial - 1,615,699 tonnes of CO 2 -e
4) Transport - 333,536 tonnes of CO 2 -e
5) Waste - 73 tonnes of CO 2 -e
Total emissions produced by the LGA
during 1998 - 2,629,085 tonnes of CO 2 -e
Source of highest emissions
- Industrial Sector
Expected emissions in 2010 - 3,001,665 tonnes of CO 2 -e
(14% increase from 1998
Transport
13%
Waste
1%
Residential
13%
Commercial
13%
Industrial
60%
Break-up of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by operating area from the Parramatta Local
Government Area during 1998
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Parramatta City Local Government Area during 1998,
and Forecast of Emissions Growth to 2010 (CO 2 Tonnes)
1800000
1600000
1616848
1569199.9
1400000
1200000
Equivalent CO 2
1000000
800000
600000
400000
500696.3
416417.8
336598.2 344009.6
334135.5
499137
200000
0
-200000
-16266.7 -20085.8
Residential Commercial Industrial Transport Waste
Sector
Equivalent CO2 (tonnes) 1998 Equivalent CO2 (tonnes) 2010
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The Greenhouse Effect and
Global Warming
The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases are a natural part of the atmosphere. They trap the sun's
warmth, and maintain the earth's surface temperature at a level necessary to
support life. The problem we now face is that human actions - particularly the
burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and land clearing - are increasing
the concentrations of these gases, creating the prospect of increased global
warming. This is the enhanced greenhouse effect.
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The Greenhouse Gases
Water vapour is the most important greenhouse gas, but human activities make
little direct impact on the amount in the atmosphere. Humans have most impact
on emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Also making a
relatively small contribution to climate change are various artificial chemicals
such as halocarbons.
The Primary Greenhouse Gases
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 )
Carbon dioxide emissions resulting from direct human activities have altered the
global carbon cycle. As a result the CO 2 concentration in the atmosphere is now
about 30% higher than 200 years ago. Burning of oil, coal and natural gas, and
the clearing and burning of vegetation are the main causes of the rise. This gas
makes the biggest contribution to the enhanced greenhouse effect (about 70%).
Nitrous oxide (N 2 O)
Burning of vegetation, industrial emissions, and effects of agriculture on soil
processes have contributed to an increase of about 15% in the N 2 O (5% in 1996
inventory) concentration in the atmosphere over the past 200 years.
Methane (CH 4 )
CH 4 makes the next biggest contribution to global warming--some 20% of the
total. Its concentration has risen by about 145% over the past 200 years. The
digestive processes of cattle, rice cultivation, venting of natural gas, and waste
decomposition in landfills are some of the major sources of CH 4 emissions.
Halocarbons
The phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to protect the ozone layer should
see concentrations steadily decline. Other halocarbons of greenhouse
significance include perfluorocarbons (PFCs) emitted during aluminium
production.
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Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Using energy from fossil fuels
When oil, gas or coal burns, carbon in the fuel combines with oxygen from the air
to make carbon dioxide. Methane is generated from coal mining operations and
from some natural gas pipelines. Greenhouse gases are also released during oil
and gas production.
Vegetation cover
Growing plants absorb carbon dioxide from air and are greenhouse gas "sinks".
Over decades, forests build up an important store of carbon in trees, soil and
fallen leaves. When land is cleared, much of this is rapidly converted back to
carbon dioxide by burning or decay.
Farming
Animals, particularly cattle and sheep, produce methane as food breaks down
inside them. Some fertilisers release nitrous oxide. Rice production in paddy
fields generates methane under water.
Breakdown of wastes
When organic materials, food scraps, garden wastes and paper are dumped in
landfills, their decay generates carbon dioxide and methane. Sewage and
wastewater treatment plants also release these gases as they break down
wastes.
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Industrial processes
Cement and aluminium production, and some other processes involve chemical
reactions which produce greenhouse gases.
Potential Impacts of the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
As the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases, the amount
of heat trapped in the atmosphere will also increase. While there is general scientific
agreement that human activities are causing changes in climatic patterns, there is still
some debate as to the extent to which the greenhouse effect is contributing to
atmospheric changes.
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) brings together the world’s
leading scientists to report on climate change. In the latest Assessment Report of the
IPCC (2001) the possible effects of global warming were recognised as:
• An increase in the global average surface temperature relative to 1990. This is
projected to increase between 1.4°C to 5.8 3.5°C by 2100,
• an increase in air turbulence (higher incidences of cyclones and storms),
• changes in rainfall patterns, and
• an increase in sea level due to warmer ocean temperatures. Average sea level is
projected to rise about 0.09 meters above present levels by 2100.
The IPCC has projected changes in climate will result in significant, often
adverse, impacts on many ecological systems and socio-economic sectors,
including food supply, water resources and human health. In some cases the
impacts are potentially irreversible - developing countries and small island
countries are typically more vulnerable to climate change. The consequences on
society of these effects may include disruption to agriculture, flooding of low lying
coastal areas, ecosystem stress due to rapid climate change, increased demand
for fresh water and the spread of tropical diseases.
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