Question on Notice: Response to Climate Emergency Inner West and Inner West Council Footpath Program

Council Meeting 21 May 2024

Item No:      C0524(1) Item 60

Subject:Question on Notice: Response to Climate Emergency Inner West and Inner West Council Footpath Program           

From: Councillor Marghanita Da Cruz  

Question

What were Council CO2e emissions for 2022/23 and period 1 July 2023- 30 Dec 2023?

Answer

Inner West Council’s carbon emissions for 2022/23 were 6,004 tonnes CO2e.

CO2e: Also known as ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’ is a measure used to quantify the emissions associated with various greenhouse gases on the basis of their global warming potential. It’s the standard unit for measuring carbon footprints (which are made up of different greenhouse gases). CO2e was created by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to make the effects of different greenhouse gases comparable because every gas has a different global warming potential. An organisation’s carbon footprint consisting of various greenhouse gases can be expressed in C02e and is comparable to other organisations.

6004 tonnes C02e is an excellent result (approx. 72% reduction compared with the 2016/17 baseline carbon footprint) and earlier than expected. It’s a result of achieving the 100% renewable electricity contract earlier than the 2025 target date (commenced July 2022), as well as over 800 kW of solar across 40 Council facilities, energy efficiency, LED residential street lighting and reducing gas consumption.

We do not currently have a complete data set for the period 1 July -30 December 2023. The total carbon emissions for 1 July 2023- 30 Dec 2023 can be reported once all data has been received. A complete carbon inventory is undertaken annually.

Question

What were the sources and amount of CO2e emission from each for 2022/23 and period 1 July 2023- 30 Dec 2023?

Answer

Table 1 below provides carbon emissions by source and scope for FY 2022/23.

We do not currently have a complete data set for the period 1 July-30 - December 2023. The total carbon emissions for 1 July 2023- 30 Dec 2023 can be reported to Council once all data has been received. A complete carbon inventory is undertaken annually.

Table 1

Sources and tonnes of CO2-e 2022/23
Sources of Emissions	Scope 1	Scope 2	Scope 3	Total tonnes CO2-e
Refrigerants	153.18			153.18
Natural Gas	1,465.97		372.68	1838.65
Fleet Vehicles Diesel	1,375.62		337.52	1,713.15
Fleet Vehicles Petrol	700.23		178.11	878.34
Fleet Vehicles Ethanol	0.12			0.12
Fleet Vehicles Biodiesel	3.37			3.37
Electricity	0	0	0	0
Water			67.10	67.10
Paper			16.29	16.29
Equipment			48.92	48.92
Food and catering			908.83	908.83
Postage			72.52	72.52
Taxis, Uber and Community Bus			3.44	3.44
Waste to landfill			283.24	283.24
Green waste			12.76	12.76
Air travel			4.58	4.58
Total tonnes CO2-e	3,698.49	0	2,305.99	6,004

 

Question

What are council operations Scope 2 CO2e Emissions and to whom for 2022/23 and period 1 July 2023- 30 Dec 2023?

Answer

Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions which occur outside of the boundary of an organisation from the generation of electricity that is consumed by the organisation. They are physically produced by the burning of fossil fuels at the power station to create the electricity. Council Scope 2 operational emissions were nil for these periods. Council electricity supply is 100% renewable/zero carbon as of July 2022.

Question

What % of materials has been reused, recycled and new materials have been used in our footpath for 2022/23 and will be used in 2023/4 renewal program?

Answer

Council does not keep these specific statistics. It should be noted that all concrete and asphalt that is removed as part of the footpath program is recycled at an appropriate facility and turned into recycled road base which is used in the delivery of our footpath program. Form work is reused and repurposed at multiple sites. 

Source: https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2024/05/C_21052024_AGN_4099_AT_WEB.htm