A climate and biodiversity emergency
City of Melbourne declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019. In doing so, we joined around 2,300 jurisdictions across 40 countries – a local and international movement recognising that climate change poses serious risks to the people of Melbourne and Australia. Our climate has already warmed by 1°C, and the emergency acknowledges that temperature rise above 1.5°C will lead to major and irreversible damage to ecosystemsOpens in new tab.
From the banks of the Yarra River to the trees that line our streets and world-famous parks, Melbourne’s unique environment and coveted liveability are at risk from the effects of climate change. In fact, we know climate change is already impacting Melbourne in many ways.
Melbourne is experiencing hotter days, bushfire smoke, more intense storms and flooding as well as sea level rise. The disruption caused by these impacts is already affecting homes, businesses and the natural environment.
Heatwaves
- Melbourne is experiencing hotter days. We currently average 11 days greater than 35 degrees. By 2050 we will experience an average 16 days greater than 35 degrees.
- The 2009 heatwave increased demand on health services including a 46 per cent increase in ambulance callouts and a 12 per cent increase in emergency department presentations.
Flooding and sea level rise
- Melbourne will experience more severe rainfall events, increasing the likelihood of flooding and storm surge.
- By 2050 sea levels will rise by 24 cm on 1990s levels.
- In 2018 Melbourne experienced a 1 in 1000 year rainfall event with 50 mm of rain falling in 15 minutes. This resulted in flash flooding, train lines suspended and power outages across the city.
Bushfire smoke
- Victoria has had longer fire seasons since the mid-1990s and fire days are projected to increase by 42 per cent per year in Melbourne by 2050.
- In January 2020 Melbourne’s air quality was the worst in the world due to smoke from bushfires.
Droughts
- By 2050, there will be 20 per cent less rainfall during spring in Melbourne. This means more severe conditions in the lead up to the summer bushfire season.
- The millennium drought and heat stress have accelerated the decline of the city’s current tree population.
- In 2019 Melbourne had 374 mm rainfall, down 40 per cent on our 630 mm average.
Climate change is impacting:
Our people
- There are health and social impacts from floods, bushfires, extreme heat and storms, especially for Melbourne’s most vulnerable residents.
- More than 1200 people are experiencing homelessness in Melbourne, and around 19 per cent of Melbourne’s residents live below the poverty line.
- Older people, young children, those with existing medical conditions and people who cannot afford air conditioning are at risk during extreme heat.
- During the heatwave preceding Black Saturday in 2009, 374 people died due to heat-related illness.
Our plants and animals
- Climate change is disrupting natural cycles and habitat in our parks and gardens.
- Temperature increases mean we could lose 35 per cent of the city’s trees in the next 20 years.
- Elms and some species of indigenous eucalypts won’t survive.
- Melbourne is home to many threatened species including the powerful owl, grey-headed flying fox and the swift parrot.
Our economy
- The estimated cost of smoke haze in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra from the 2019–2020 bushfires is $500 million.
- Climate change will cost our local economy $12.6 billion by 2050 and impact agriculture, tourism, insurance and finance.
- The transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles is already underway.
- Businesses in the municipality of Melbourne lost an estimated $37 million in revenue over the four-day heatwave in 2014.
- The total cost of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires was estimated at $4.4 billion.
We know that immediate action to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts is needed now if Melbourne is to remain a liveable city for future generations.
How we are responding
We have a strong record of reducing emissions and restoring and conserving biodiversity, but we realise the climate emergency we are facing requires even more urgent action.
We have:
- been certified carbon neutral for our operations every year since 2012
- cut emissions from our council operations by 53 per cent between 2013 and 2019
- purchased 100 per cent renewable energy through the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project
- switched our major events such as Melbourne Fashion Week, Melbourne Music Week and Melbourne Knowledge Week to be certified carbon neutral
- planted 3000 trees a year to grow our urban forest, with over 22,000 trees planted since 2012
- invested $40 million in stormwater harvesting and water sensitive urban design, capturing and reusing around 180,000 kilolitres of water per year.
- invested $17.1 million of Clean Energy Finance Corporation funds in energy efficiency and renewable energy, including 2244 solar panels installed and 11,816 street lights
- increased biodiversity with 16,000 m2 of new understorey vegetation planted in Melbourne since 2018, providing habitat for our wildlife
- greened the city and increased permeability by over 3500 m2 through park expansion and streetscapes projects
- accelerated waste avoidance and resource recovery through centralised waste and recycling hubs across the city
- ensuring everyone has access to fair, affordable, renewable energy by transforming our energy grids through Power Melbourne
- promoting urban biodiversity through the community-based Gardens for Wildlife program
- revegetating the banks of the Yarra River through the Greenline ProjectOpens in new tab to improve the health and wellbeing of the river.
We will do more
To support our climate and biodiversity emergency declaration, we have committed to reaching Council’s zero emissions target for the municipality 10 years earlier, by 2040.
In order to do this, we have identified 10 priorities for accelerated action, based on the areas where we can make the most impact.
| Priority | Status | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Transition Council operations from fossil fuels. | Some progress | Jean McKendry Neighbourhood Centre and North Melbourne Town Hall are both fully electrified assets. Council is seeking funding through the Federal Government's Community Energy Upgrade Fund to fast-track more electrification projects. |
| Fast track delivery of 44 km of protected bike lanes | Some progress | 28.3km delivered to date including 6.2km along St Kilda Road, delivered by Department of Transport and Planning. Council resolved on 23 April 2024 to cease the accelerated bike lane program of works due in part to The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning advice that the use of adjustable infrastructure which commenced during the pandemic being no longer supported. |
| Stimulate end market circular economy solutions. | Strong progress | Council trialled the use of recycled materials in environmentally friendly concrete on the Queen Victoria Market renewal project. This product is currently being assessed for broader application across the city. Over 2054 tonnes of food waste has been diverted via the kerbside Food Organic Garden Organic (FOGO) service across 23,000 single-unit and multi-unit households. |
| Embed climate change and biodiversity action into Council processes, programs and design and construction of assets. | Strong progress | Council launched the internal ‘Designing for Climate Change Guidance Materials’ to provide council asset designers and project managers with the tools and information to understand and respond to climate change risk. The Canopy Uplift Program has delivered $1.2M of new tree planting in the city with a further $1.7M committed. Now or Never Festival joins Melbourne Fashion Week, Moomba and Firelight Festival as certified carbon neutral events. |
| Mandate greening and zero emissions buildings through the planning scheme. | Strong progress | Council received submissions as part of the exhibition of Planning Scheme Amendment C376 Sustainable Building Design. The Amendment was considered by Future Melbourne Committee in May 2024 before being scheduled to go to a Planning Panel in August 2024. |
| Accelerate renewable energy purchasing by businesses and residents. | Strong progress | Council welcomed a commercial partner to deliver the pilot stage of Power Melbourne, which will see three battery energy storage systems installed at Library at the Dock, Boyd Community Hub and a Council House site. The project’s pilot phase will gain crucial insights to inform the expansion of the battery network for renters, apartment residents and small businesses in the future. |
| Incentivise good building environmental performance (including renewable energy use) through rates. | Some progress | Council’s Retrofit Melbourne Plan was released in October 2023 and outlines 11 initiatives to improve building environmental performance across the city. A partnership has been formed with the Urban Land Institute to develop a model for a zero-carbon precinct in Melbourne. Various regulatory options are being assessed to improve building performance. |
| Build a business coalition to advance the clean and circular economy. | Strong progress | The Melbourne Climate Network launched in August 2023, is designed to lead economic growth and drive zero-carbon jobs. |
| Tell Melbourne's climate change and biodiversity story. | Strong progress | Climate change and biodiversity stories were featured in campaigns for Council projects such as Power Melbourne, Urban Greening and Retrofit Melbourne. The Lord Mayor and senior spokespersons represented the climate action of Council at over 40 events in 2023, including at COP28. |
| Undertake bold advocacy on behalf of our community. | Strong progress | The City of Melbourne has partnered with State and Federal Government and delivered strong advocacy for strengthening environmental regulation, policy positions and outcomes. |
| Priority | Status | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Transition Council operations from fossil fuels. | Some progress | Three facilities have switched to all electric operations. Kensington Recreation Centre design and construction contract awarded for all-electric build. Council on track to achieve a zero emissions fleet in 2025. |
| Fast track delivery of 44 km of protected bike lanes outlined in the Transport Strategy 2030. | Some progress | 19.1km (or 41%) delivered to date. |
| Stimulate end market circular economy solutions. | Strong progress | Ten City of Melbourne businesses coached on Circular Economy Practices. Design of a Circular Economy Precinct underway. Over 23,000 dwellings are now participating in the Food Organics, Garden Organics recycling service. 6 high-rise buildings are trialling dehydrator units. |
| Embed climate change and biodiversity action into Council processes, programs and design and construction of assets. | Strong progress | Sustainable and climate resilient assets guidance material finalised for internal stakeholders. Canopy cover as at June 2022 is at 25%. All committed major events run by City of Melbourne have now achieved carbon neutral certification. |
| Mandate greening and zero emissions buildings through the planning scheme. | Strong progress | The Minister has authorised the exhibition of C376 Sustainable Building Design amendment and consultation closed on 17 April 2023. |
| Accelerate renewable energy purchasing by businesses and residents. | Strong progress | Power Melbourne tender in market to engage a solution provider to deliver a network of community batteries linked to a renewable retail electricity offering for renters, apartment residents, and small businesses. |
| Incentivise good building environmental performance (including renewable energy use) through rates. | Strong progress | Developed a Zero Carbon Buildings Discussion Paper based on international review and extensive stakeholder engagement. |
| Build a business coalition to advance the clean and circular economy. | Strong progress | The Go Full Circle pilot project was delivered. Held the Investment roundtable and Zero Carbon Summit, and over 200 individuals signed up to join the Zero Carbon Cluster. |
| Tell Melbourne's climate change and biodiversity story. | Strong progress | Climate change and biodiversity stories were featured in a targeted communications campaign, Our Sustainable City. Work continues to embed messaging throughout the year through carbon neutral major events, asset delivery milestones, engagement and neighbourhoods. The Lord Mayor and councillors told our story at over 6 international events. |
| Undertake bold advocacy on behalf of our community. | Strong progress | Strong Victorian and Federal Government action in line with City of Melbourne advocacy positions. |
| Priority | Status | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Transition Council operations from fossil fuels. | Some progress | Gas free operations roadmap developed. Key challenge is funding. |
| Fast track delivery of 44 km of protected bike lanes outlined in the Transport Strategy 2030. | Strong progress | Roll out accelerated as part of COVID recovery response. |
| Stimulate end market circular economy solutions. | Some progress | Major initiative scoped for 2021-25 Council Plan. |
| Embed climate change and biodiversity action into Council processes, programs and design and construction of assets. | Strong progress | Includes vulnerability assessment and embedding into 10 year asset plan for 2021-22. |
| Mandate greening and zero emissions buildings through the planning scheme. | Some progress | C376 endorsed by FMC. Key challenge is slow progress from Victorian Government on authorisation. |
| Accelerate renewable energy purchasing by businesses and residents. | Strong progress | Evolved into Power Melbourne. |
| Incentivise good building environmental performance (including renewable energy use) through rates. | Strong progress | Economic analysis complete, further work on hold due to COVID impact on property market. |
| Build a business coalition to advance the clean and circular economy. | Some progress | Link to major initiatives for Melbourne to be a global leader and an employment centre for resilient, zero carbon economy. |
| Tell Melbourne's climate change and biodiversity story. | Some progress | Limited communications focus in last 12 months. |
| Undertake bold advocacy on behalf of our community. | Strong progress | Strong Victorian Government action in line with City of Melbourne advocacy positions. UN Climate Conference (Nov 21) and Federal Election key opportunities in 2021-22. |
What you can do
Australia is still the largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the developed world.
We all need to take action to strengthen an international effort to limit global warming to 1.5°C and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
- Purchase 100 per cent GreenPower for your home or business. Visit GreenpowerOpens in new tab.
- Switch your superannuation to a provider that has divested from fossil fuel. Learn more at Market ForcesOpens in new tab.
- Commit to reducing meat in your diet and source your food locally
- Join the CitySwitch program to take action at work.
- Where possible, take public transport, a bike or walk instead of using a car.
- Become a Citizen Forester and help grow our urban forest.
- If you have a garden, consider promoting biodiversity through the Gardens for Wildlife program.
- Consider volunteering for an organisation such as Conservation Volunteers AustraliaOpens in new tab to help revegetate and restore our landscape.
