Newcastle Emission Reduction Plan

The Newcastle Emission Reduction Plan involves the development of an ambitious emission reduction plan for the City of Newcastle Local Government Area through a participatory process that engages the community, industry and government.
This project will create a detailed plan and city-wide commitment to rapidly reduce carbon emissions.

For each of 5 emissions sectors, working groups will develop strategies to reduce emissions within that sector. These will be collated into an overall Emission Reduction Plan. These strategies and plan will be presented at a Climate Summit to be held in Newcastle on Saturday 30 September 2023. Following the presentations, table talks will be used to elicit feedback on the plan from the public and key stakeholders. Based on the feedback, the plan will be finalised for implementation.

We are keen to get your ideas on how to reduce emissions in Newcastle and volunteers to help with the plan and upcoming Climate Summit. (more details below). Click on the buttons below if you have an idea to reduce emissions or would like to help out with this exciting project.

Submit your idea

I want to help out

Newcastle Emission Reduction Plan is a joint initiative of
Climate Action Newcastle and Newcastle Climate Change Response

The City of Newcastle has a detailed Action Plan to reduce the 1% of city-wide emissions that Council is directly responsible for.

Council has also committed to increasing energy and waste efficiency and reducing emissions from buildings, transport, infrastructure and supply chains (Newcastle 2040).

Our Plan

Our plan is to:

Develop an ambitious emission reduction plan for the City of Newcastle Local Government Area
Actively involve community members and leaders, including business, industry and all levels of government
Build support for the implementation of the plan
Increase awareness and commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions

Newcastle Emission Profile

Emissions profile

Electricity (64%)
Transport (19%)
Gas (6%)
Industrial processes & product use (5%)
Waste (5%)

For more details of Newcastle's Emission Profile and Emission Targets click here...

Emission Sectors

The Newcastle Emission Reduction Plan is divided into 5 sectors:

Transport
Waste
Residential/Household Electricity & Gas
Commercial/Business Electricity & Gas
Industrial processes & product use

N.B Emission Sectors are arranged based on emission data breakdown and stakeholder groupings

Levers to reduce emissions

Local councils have many levers that can either directly and indirectly influence emissions in their local communities. 100% Renewables (2021) identified nine levers that councils can utilise to influence reducing emissions within their communities either directly or indirectly. For more detailed information on each of these levers click here...

Local Council Levers to Influence GHG Emissions in their Communities (100% Renewables, 2021).

Steps to develop and implement the Newcastle Emission Reduction Plan

Outreach and engagement to convene 5 working groups

Draft emission reduction plans for each major emission sector

Climate Summit
Sat 30 Sept

Finalise Emission Reduction Plan

Implementationmonitoring & review

How are we going to develop the plan

Working groups will be formed for each emission sector from Government/Council, Business, Community and Industry.
These working groups will develop an Emission Reduction Strategy detailing how emissions can be reduced for their sector. These will include planned actions and city-wide commitments to rapidly reduce carbon emissions.
These strategies will be collated into an overall draft Emission Reduction Plan.

What are we going to do with the plan

Newcastle Climate Summit

Pre-register for Newcastle Climate Summit

On Saturday 30 September will be held the Newcastle Climate Summit.
More information on the Summit will be available soon. You can register your interest in coming to the Summit here...
The Emission Reduction Strategies for each Emission Sector and the draft Newcastle Emission Reduction Plan will be presented at the summit.
Table Talks will be conducted for each Emission Sector Strategy to get feedback and commitment from key stakeholders and the public.

Post-Summit Next Steps

Following the Summit the Emission Reduction Plan will be finalised based on feedback obtained at the Table Talks.
Actions identified in the Plan will be implemented through buisiness, community, industry, government and local council initiatives and programmes.
Progress on the implementation of actions in the plan will be monitored and their effectiveness in reducing emissions measured.

How you can get involved

If you have any ideas to reduce emissions in Newcastle please fill out the form by clicking on the button below.

Submit your idea

If you want to volunteer in this project please fill out the form by clicking on the button below and we will be in contact with you shortly. Let us know if you would like to work with one of the emission sector groups, helping with the Climate Summit, or something else.

I want to help out

Participating organisations

Please note that NCCR in connecting with the diverse groups and communities is bound by the principles of nonviolence, inclusion and relationality but is not responsible or liable for the actions of these groups.

References and Further Reading

100% Renewables. (2021). Transition to Net Zero: Local Government role in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions to 2030 and 2050. Retrieved 18 April 2023, from https://100percentrenewables.com.au/download-portal/?dwID=29

Ironbark Sustainability and Beyond Zero Emissions. (2022). 2022 Snapshot emissions profile – Ironbark Sustainability and Beyond Zero Emissions. Snapshot. Retrieved 09 April 2023, from https://snapshotclimate.com.au/