Climate Change

Climate change is already impacting Maroondah.

Climate change is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in our atmosphere. The impacts of climate change pose a risk to both Council operations and the wider Maroondah community.

Council has been working to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions since 1998, when it joined the ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection Project. In 2001, Council set a goal to cut emissions by 20% from 1995 levels by 2010, and in 2008, Council set the first corporate goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2020.

Climate change graphic

Reducing emissions

Council is reducing organisation-wide emissions by:

  • improving energy efficiency of Council buildings and street lighting
  • buying renewable electricity through the Victorian Energy Collaboration power purchase agreement
  • installing solar PV on Council buildings to generate electricity on-site.

Buying renewable electricity

In 2021/22, Council joined 46 Victorian councils in the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO) to purchase 100% renewable electricity for large Council sites. Since then, we’ve also rolled in small sites and street lighting. VECO is the largest emissions reduction project ever undertaken by the local government sector in Australia, and secures competitive electricity prices, saving Council significantly on electricity costs.

Installing solar on Council buildings

Council has installed over 1.42MW of solar PV across Council buildings to generate electricity on-site. The systems produced approximately 1,377,709kWh in 2024/25. In 2025, Council installed its first battery at Wyreena Community Centre. The battery will hold excess energy and store it on-site for use while the sun isn’t shining.

Climate Change planning

Council continues to assess the implications of climate change on Council operations, and incorporates climate change risk and adaptation considerations into decision-making processes.

Council is currently working on developing a Climate Change Plan, to replace the existing Carbon Neutral Strategy and Climate Change Risk and Adaptation Strategy.

Supporting community efforts

Council supports the community to lower their emissions through the Solar Savers and Energy Savers programs.

Further information

For more information on Council becoming carbon neutral, contact Council’s Sustainability Team on 1300 88 22 33.

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