Key actions

The actions in this Climate Action Plan will set Boroondara on a path to meet our targets.

Some of these actions are ready to roll out, and some need more planning and development. Other actions define how new or updated policy frameworks should be developed for us to meet our objectives and targets.

We have identified these actions as achievable priorities by our community and staff. We have also researched best practices to reduce and adapt to the effects of climate change.

Some of the actions need commitments from partners or for technology to be more widely available. However, our Climate Action Plan includes how we can carry out those actions when it’s possible. For example, around 8% of our greenhouse gas emissions that come from natural gas is for heating buildings and pools. Another 8% comes from our vehicle fleet, which includes large waste collection vehicles. These percentages come from our baseline year in 2007–08. Our natural gas usage made up a total of 40% of emissions in 2021.

We have set a target to halve the number of our buildings that use natural gas by 2030. Supporting smaller buildings to only use electric power will be important in meeting this target. We will also look for ways to support our larger buildings and pools to use only electric power. For example, we believe that heat pump technology, which uses electricity, may be the best way to heat our larger facilities and aquatic centres. However, we need to do more work to show how this technology is good for operations and cost-effectiveness. We also want to work with other Victorian councils to learn more and trial different technology to find one that meets our needs. This means it may take some time to convert our larger facilities from natural gas to electric power.

We have set a target to convert 90% of our passenger fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) or other low emissions technology by 2030. We will start this transition by focussing on light vehicles. Then we will include heavier vehicles over time.

Small EVs and other low emissions vehicles are already available. However, more work needs to be done to make sure the options for larger electric vehicles (such as waste trucks) will be appropriate for our needs. We will keep looking for new opportunities to transition our larger vehicles throughout the life of our Climate Action Plan.

Key themes

Our actions over the 10-year life of the Climate Action Plan are summarised under 5 key themes:

  1. Energy efficiency and renewable energy
  2. Biodiversity and trees
  3. Water and waterways
  4. Transport
  5. Circular economy (waste).

We have also have overarching actions that affect more than one theme.

Under each theme, the actions are classified as:

  • Actions to make Council more sustainable
  • Partnership actions
  • Actions to adapt to climate change
  • Policy and advocacy actions.

These long-term and broad actions will be supported by:

  • more detailed actions in the Climate Action Plan Implementation Plans
  • strategies that are specific to the themes above
  • our annual budget process.
A woman and young girl with a chicken