The development of a Climate Action Plan will provide an actionable roadmap for the next five years in the areas of energy, resources and ecosystems. In 2018, Boulder will continue to implement and improve core climate and energy programs including its Building Performance Ordinance for efficiency in commercial and industrial buildings, updating energy codes, SmartRegsrental housing efficiency requirements, one-on-one business and residential advising and reducing landfill emissions through the implementation of the Universal Zero Waste Ordinance. All part of the city’s Climate Commitment document, the adopted goals also include progress indicators and targets for local renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, electric vehicle adoption and waste and water reductions for key milestone years.
In December 2016, Boulder City Council formally adopted goals to guide Boulder’s climate action efforts, including reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 80% from 2005 levels by 2050 reducing emissions from city operations 80% below 2008 levels by 2030 and achieving 100% renewable electricity community-wide by 2030. By playing our part to address this global challenge we are maximising the economic, social and environmental opportunities of technological and behaviour change. Our achievements build upon our international reputation as a green, liveable, smart and creative city. We partner with other councils in our region on climate change adaptation to reduce risk exposure and enhance the city’s resilience to a changing climate. We have also supported our most vulnerable members of the community by providing flexible finance arrangements for solar PV energy systems through a separate rate mechanism. The City of Adelaide supports mitigation activities to reduce Council Administration and community GHG emissions through initiatives such as energy efficiency and the uptake of renewable energy technologies in our own facilities as well as providing our community with financial incentives for the uptake of sustainable energy and water technologies through the City of Adelaide’s Sustainability Incentives Scheme. This was followed by the Carbon Neutral Adelaide Action Plan 2016-2021 which outlines a way forward for mobilising efforts to achieve carbon neutrality for the City of Adelaide. The City of Adelaide adopted its Carbon Neutral Strategy 2015-2025, which includes targets for the City of Adelaide community to have zero net carbon emissions by 2025 and for City of Adelaide organisation to have zero net carbon emissions from its operations by 2020. Carbon Neutral Adelaide is our community’s shared ambition to work together and make the City of Adelaide one of the world’s first carbon neutral cities. Adelaide and the South Australian community are taking significant action to tackle climate change.