The City of Melbourne has set itself ambitious targets to minimise its greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste generation.
Environment Management Plan
The Environment Management Plan is the cornerstone of the City of Melbourne Environment Local Law 1999.
The Environment Management Plan sets out responsible waste and environmental practices for all properties in the municipality and applies to all property owners and occupiers. Its objective is to promote a safe, cleaner and more pleasant environment in the City of Melbourne.
Environment Local Law checklist of businesses (PDF, 53kb)
Environment Local Law checklist of businesses (Text only, 32kb)
Greenhouse Action Plan
The City of Melbourne is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the municipality to zero by 2020 and is leading the way in future sustainability and averting the consequences of climate change.
Greenhouse Action Plan 2006 – 2010 (PDF, 150kb)
Greenhouse Action Plan 2006 – 2010 (Text only, 212kb)
Carbon-cutting factsheets:
We're cutting our carbon (PDF, 148kb)
We're cutting our carbon (Text only, 1.5MB)
Zero Net Emissions by 2020
Zero Net Emissions is Council's roadmap to a climate-neutral city. We are working towards the ambitious target of zero net emissions by 2020.
Zero Net Emissions by 2020 – Strategy Update (2008) (PDF, 2.7MB)
Zero Net Emissions by 2020 (2002) (PDF, 1.3MB)
Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy is a comprehensive assessment of Melbourne’s climate change risks for 2010, 2030 and 2070. The strategy outlines a risk analysis of the potential climate change impacts and possible implications for Melbourne.
Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (PDF, 3.7MB)
Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (Text only, 1.6 MB)
Please note: These files are large and may take some time to download.
Total Watermark – City as a Catchment Strategy
The City of Melbourne is developing innovative ways of using stormwater runoff from roads and footpaths, capturing rain from rooftops and improving the water quality in our waterways.
Providing a framework for Melbourne to become a water sensitive city, the Total Watermark – City as a Catchment strategy seeks local solutions to water management issues.
Total Watermark – City as a Catchment (PDF, 2.1MB)
Total Watermark – City as a Catchment (Text only, 1.1 MB)
View the water budget for the City of Melbourne: Baseline 2000 and Target 2020 (Image)
Waste Management Strategy
The City of Melbourne's Waste Management Strategy is our 2020 vision for sustainable waste management.
It sets out to continue to achieve improvements in recycling. Beyond this, its major purpose is to empower people working, visiting and living in the City of Melbourne to ‘do more with less’ – by avoiding the creation of waste in the first place.
Waste Management Strategy (PDF, 2Mb)
Waste Management Strategy (Text only, 272kb)
Waste Implementation Plan 2009/10–2012/13
This plan outlines the steps required to implement the Waste Management Strategy. Specific targets have been set to ensure that actions are monitored, measured and improved.
Waste Implementation Plan (PDF, 43kb) 
Waste Implementation Plan (Text only, 164kb)
Integrated Waste Management Program
A program of nine key initiatives was adopted by the Future Melbourne Committee at its meeting on 17 May 2011. Details of the program and the Committee resolution can be found in the management report and the minutes of the meeting.
Integrated Waste Management Program – report from management (PDF,685kb)
Integrated Waste Management Program – report from management (PDF, 3.1mb)
Related strategies