MEDIA RELEASE
18 December 2009
Outcome in Copenhagen will not stop Sydney
The City of Sydney will press on with a comprehensive program of initiatives to slash
greenhouse gas emissions regardless of the outcome of the climate change summit in
Copenhagen.
The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore MP, today vowed to accelerate the City’s
commitment to a seven point action plan, with renewed efforts to gain support from the
Federal Government to achieve delivery of an annual 57 million tonnes reduction in
emissions by 2020.
Speaking from Copenhagen after attending a Summit of Mayors on Climate, Ms Moore
said the City was already accelerating emission abatement programs and had
achieved carbon neutral status.
This means the City can purchase 100 per cent green power and accredited offsets for
non-electricity emissions, and through use of combined cooling, heat and power
technology (CCHP) produce enough non-coal- fired electricity to supply 70 per cent of
the CBD and inner city villages.
“The use of CCHP would result in abatement of the City’s emissions by up to 30 per
cent and mean we would no longer have to use power from coal fired power stations,”
Ms Moore said.
Other initiatives the City already has underway and/or will be initiating include:
Retrofitting the lighting systems in a number of its buildings via lighting control
systems, occupancy sensors, efficient fittings and lamp upgrades;
Improving the average efficiency of lighting systems by some 25 per cent;
Installing 250 sustainable street lights across the Sydney CBD and city villages;
Advocacy for mandatory minimum energy performance standards across all
appliances;
Use of higher efficiency electrical motors in the City's fountain pumps and pool
filtration systems;
Solar panels on Town Hall and all community centres;
Introduction of renewable energy master plan to facilitate introduction of solar energy
across the City;
Introduction of a waste to energy treatment facility in the City.
”On the transport front, we aim for at least 10 per cent of trips by bicycle and 50 per
cent by walking, with more than 80 per cent of people using public transport to travel to
work in the City centre by 2030,” Ms Moore said.
“To that end, we are spending $76 million over the next four years building a 200km
cycleway network and working with other councils on a regional network.
“On the planning table is a dedicated north-south public transport corridor along
George Street, linked by a series of public squares. This will vastly improve the
environment for pedestrians.
“We are also pursuing footpath widening, a 40km/hr traffic speed limit, shorter
pedestrian waiting time, shared zones, pedestrian priority routes, and adjustment to
kerbs and crossing opportunities.
“Our campaign to encourage State and Federal investment for light rail network will be
reinforced because it’s less polluting, reduces congestion, and has greater capacity.”
Ms Moore said the City signed-on in Copenhagen to vigorously pursue greater take-up
of electrical vehicles and the development of charging station infrastructure.
It would be adding up 50 electrical vehicles to its fleet as soon as possible and making
additional purchases in the coming years.
“Employee density is another area where we believe we can make a difference on
emission abatement,” Ms Moore said.
“If you have more people together they can share resources and it’s more efficient and
you build less buildings. Congestion can also be lessened by encouraging staggered
work hours.”
Media inquiries to Jeff Lewis, 0401 994008
in the debate and be heard. You can also read updates from Clover
and throughout Copenhagen.
NEWS 
