Meeting papers

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                          9 DECEMBER 2025


7.2         ORGANISATIONAL EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROGRESS REPORT


Author             Sustainability and Climate Change Coordinator, Shayan Barmand
                   Strategy & Sustainability | Strategy and Environment
Index              1.42 Carbon Emission Reduction – Council Organisation
                   41.23 - Climate Change
                   41.45 - Climate Change Response Plan
Attachments        None


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Council has been on a long and positive journey toward emissions reduction to mitigate the growing
effects of climate change and reduce the intensity and frequency of climate hazards that are already
impacting its operations and community. This journey began back in 2001 but was formalised
through the Zero Emissions Organisational Strategy 2016 where the Net Zero by 2026 target was
set. This report provides an update on Council’s organisational emissions reduction progress and
outlines the next steps in setting a new, science-based and achievable set of targets for a climate
positive future for Noosa Shire.
While Council will not meet its original 2026 target, significant progress has been made, including a
19% reduction in operational emissions since FY15/16 through the delivery of projects such as solar
installations, battery storage (at important sites like Evacuation Centres), LED lighting upgrades,
green waste bin program and landfill gas flaring. These initiatives have delivered significant
emissions reduction, operational cost savings and resilience co-benefits for Council and the
community. In addition, Council can still meet its target to ensure all Council facilities are powered
by 100% renewable energy by 2026, subject to the next report to Council and FY26/27 budget
deliberations.

Recent investigations have considered the option for Council to become carbon neutral starting in
2026 through the purchase of third-party offsets that would compensate for Council’s residual
emissions of 45,118 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (tCO2e) per year. However, this option is
not recommended due to the significant integrity and availability concerns with the offset market; the
high cost implications with limited associated community and local biodiversity co-benefits; as well
as misalignment with industry best practice, which emphasises maximising the reduction of direct
and indirect emissions prior to resorting to offsets.
It is instead recommended that Council focus its efforts on accelerating direct emissions reduction
actions internally, primarily by:
•   advancing Council’s endorsed From Waste to Resource Plan;
•   continuing to rollout clean energy and transport projects with positive net financial and
    community benefits; and
•   establishing local carbon removal projects (such as environmental planting and land restoration)
    that provide important biodiversity conservation and community co-benefits.
A Climate Positive Investment Roadmap is currently in development, including modelling of cost-
effective actions including waste diversion, energy efficiency upgrades, and local carbon
sequestration opportunities. This roadmap will inform a new target date and investment strategy,
ensuring alignment with the latest updates in climate science, market conditions, technology
availability and strategic priorities, including demonstrating strong co-benefits for community. Setting
a credible pathway to reduce emissions and committing to an evidence-based investment plan with
innovative financing and resourcing can improve community health, improve grid reliability, reduce
Council’s liability exposure, reduce damage costs from disaster events, and demonstrate leadership
in delivering a clean, safe, and sustainable future for the Noosa community.



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