Organisational Emissions Reduction Progress Report · Report

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                                 9 DECEMBER 2025



Notable projects which have contributed to this reduction include:
•    Over 750kW of solar installed across several council buildings, including Evacuation Centres.
•    Installing battery energy storage systems at The J, The Noosa Leisure Centre and Peregian
     Digital Hub. These also provide resilience co-benefits in the form of back up in the case of a
     power outage, which is particularly important for the first two being Evacuation Centres.
•    LED lighting upgrades across most of council buildings. Most recently, the theatre lighting at The
     J was upgraded to high spec LEDs.
•    HVAC upgrades
•    Increased landfill gas flaring (1,566,908 m3 of methane flared in FY2014 compared with
     2,290,623 m3 in FY2025)
•    Green waste diversion since 2017
The rollout of solar and batteries on council buildings has not only reduced emissions, it has also led
to co-benefits such as reduced electricity bills, improved energy self-sufficiency, and strengthened
resilience to extreme weather events and grid outages. Replacing reliance on grid electricity with
clean energy also supports local jobs, creates educational opportunities, improves air quality, and
demonstrates leadership in the clean energy transition. Using current electricity tariffs and the CO₂e
per kWh factor of 0.73 for Queensland (2), an estimate of the total electricity cost savings from
Council’s distributed energy assets to date is approximately $650,000 - $750,000 and 2,948 tCO₂e
(note that this is only operation cost savings). The continued deployment of low cost, renewable
energy systems and energy efficiency measures ensures Council is well placed to meet its target for
all Council facilities to be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2026.

These projects have served as strong examples of Council’s capacity to reduce emissions, achieve
cost savings, and enhance operational resilience. However, the majority of initiatives rolled out to
date have been relatively straightforward, “quick win” projects. Moving forward, it is necessary to
invest in more complex, large-scale, and transformative initiatives, most of which will be centred
around the Waste Resource Recovery Centre (in accordance with Council’s endorsed From Waste
to Resource Plan 2023-2028) as landfill emissions remain Council’s most significant emissions
source.
(1) Using the mid-point discount rate for SC-CO2 as a conservative proxy and adjusted to nominal 2025 AUD using 2020-2025 cumulative
U.S. inflation and the RBA monthly exchange rate for Oct 2025. Source: U.S. EPA (2023) Report on the Social Cost of Greenhouse
Gases:       Estimates     Incorporating      Recent    Scientific     Advances.     https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-
12/epa_scghg_2023_report_final.pdf
(2)      Commonwealth          of       Australia    (2023)       National     Greenhouse        Accounts      Factors     Workbook
2023.https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/national-greenhouse-account-factors-2023.pdf

3. Reflection on the 2026 Target

Council’s decision to adopt an ambitious net zero target by 2026 was very impactful at the time as it
aligned directly with the latest climate science, which shows that rapid and front-loaded emissions
reductions are essential to limiting warming to 1.5°C and avoid escalating climate risks. By
committing early, Council acknowledged its role within the global effort to reduce emissions and
recognised that, while its operational footprint is comparatively small, local governments play a
disproportionate role in signalling ambition, shaping community expectations and demonstrating
practical climate leadership. Setting such a target also reflected a strong leadership and
intergenerational responsibility, consistent with national scientific guidance emphasising the need to
safeguard future generations from worsening climate impacts (3)(4). Importantly, it was recognised
that early action unlocks substantial co-benefits (such as reduced energy costs, improved
operational resilience, and broader economic gains) including advancing Council’s Different by
Nature ethos through pilot projects on new solar technology, new global ‘insetting’ methodologies,
and Queensland’s first community-owned community battery. Together, these factors positioned
Noosa as a proactive, science-aligned and socially responsible leader in the transition to a safe and
sustainable future – a reputation that Council proudly maintains amongst its national peers.