Blue Mountains City Council has adopted a target of carbon neutrality by the end of 2025.

The voluntary standard, measured through the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS) certification process, ensures organisations are applying best practice when managing carbon emissions. It also provides a rigorous, credible and independently verified assessment prior to achieving carbon neutral certification.

To meet this target, BMCC must measure its carbon emissions, feasibly reduce emissions and purchase carbon offsets equal to their remaining emissions, with the aim of releasing zero net carbon emissions to the atmosphere.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said the council has already reduced carbon emissions from operations by 22 per cent, under the Carbon Abatement Action Plan adopted in June 2016.

“Our Carbon Revolving Reserve has committed over $1.7 million to energy efficiency and renewable energy by reinvesting the financial savings into new projects,” he said. 

“Current projects include installing energy efficient lighting across council facilities, replacing inefficient street lighting, and installing 289 kW of rooftop solar panels on several council facilities.

“Last year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned we have less than 12 years to reduce global CO2 emissions by at least 50 per cent or face irreversible damage to our planet.

“It seems clear the single most important thing we can do to stop climate change is reduce emissions, and as the third council in NSW to declare a climate emergency, it's an issue we take very seriously.

“Council is constantly looking for opportunities to improve our operations and make sure sustainability is part of everything we do, and targets like this one are an effective way to encourage further improvement,” he said.  

Image: Solar panels on the Visitor Information Centre at Echo Point, Katoomba