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Climate Emergency Action Plan on a page

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Climate Emergency Action Plan 2025 - 2030

For a zero carbon, circular (zero waste) and climate resilient Merri-bek.

Socially just & resilient - no one left behind

  • Low-income and at-risk residents are not left behind
  • Communicate, engage, and collaborate with our diverse community
  • More shade trees in backyards, schools, retirement villages
  • Progress 'resilience hubs' model in at-risk neighbourhoods
  • Foster a heat aware community
  • Help 1000 households with energy bills and home thermal comfort

Energy transition- efficient and 100% renewable

  • Promote and facilitate household energy transition
  • Energy innovation and partnerships
  • Foster energy transition by businesses
  • Triple local energy storage batteries

Sustainable transport- active or zero emissions

  • School active travel
  • Increased adoption of low and zero emissions travel by our diverse community
  • Facilitating EV charging network
  • Creating a more walking and cycling friendly city
  • Upgrades to support walking and riding at Ride & Stride schools

Waste & consumption - circular economy

  • Education and behaviour change
  • Efficient and high-performance kerbside services
  • Reduce food and packaging waste from businesses and multi-unit developments
  • Circular economy opportunities and outcomes for and by businesses, social enterprises and community
  • Halve food and garden waste sent to landfill

Council as role model - leading by example

  • City planning
  • Council buildings and infrastructure
  • Fleet
  • Services and operations
  • Advocacy

Complemented by Strategies for:

  • Urban forest
  • Transport
  • Nature
  • Water management

Our achievements so far

Our Zero Carbon Merri-bek (ZCM) Climate Emergency Action Plan 2020 - 2025 was guiding our actions to eliminate climate pollution in Merri-bek by 2035. The plan included 21 community and Council goals for 2025. Many of these ambitious goals have been achieved, and some will be carried through to our next plan. Read our summary of achievements since 2020.

Our next Climate Emergency Action Plan

Our action plan for 2025-2030 broadens its focus. It includes refreshed goals for 2030 and priority actions to deliver on 3 key sustainability strategies:

  • Zero Carbon Merri-bek 2040 Framework - urgently reducing the climate pollution that is causing global warming, with a focus on emissions from energy, transport and waste.
  • Circular Economy Strategy - defining our vision for a circular economy with zero waste, to help tackle the climate and environmental impacts of unsustainable design and consumption.
  • Climate Risk Strategy - ensuring we prepare now for even hotter and more extreme weather to come.

Action Plan at a glance

We have divided the plan into 5 strategic directions, with new directions of 'socially just and climate resilient' and 'Council as role model'.

Click through to learn more about our goals and priority actions from now to 2030.

  • Socially just and climate resilient transition

    No one left behind

    Learn more 

  • Energy Transition

    Efficient and 100% renewably powered energy

    Learn more 

  • Sustainable transport

    Active or zero emissions transport

    Learn more 

  • Waste and consumption

    Circular economy with zero waste

    Learn more 

  • ​Council as role model

    Creating a zero carbon, circular and climate resilient city

    Learn more 

  • Want more detail?

    Download the Draft Climate Emergency Action Plan to find out more before sharing your thoughts.

    Download PDF (1.12MB) 

How can the community influence this project?

What can be influenced?

  • The 2030 goals can be revised or added to.
  • Additional delivery partners/collaborators can be identified.
  • Priority gaps in programs/actions can be identified for consideration.

What can't be changed?

  • The Climate Emergency Action Plan will be working holistically to progress the Zero Carbon Merri-bek 2040 Framework, the Circular Economy Strategy and the Climate Risk Strategy.
  • This action plan will not duplicate all the climate-related actions that are being delivered through Council's Urban Forest Strategy, Nature Plan, Integrated Water Management Strategy or other related strategies