Climate Action

Our Climate Action Plan is a key to our climate change response. It aims to enhance and expand action in response to the urgency and magnitude of the current climate situation.

Climate Action Plan 2023–2028.pdf(PDF, 8MB)

Key progress includes:

• Installed solar panels across more than 130 Council facilities, saving $800,000 annually on bills, and reducing carbon emissions by around 4,500 tonnes each year.
• Completed full electrification of the Aitken Hill Community Centre, which now operates entirely on efficient electric appliances, powered by renewable energy. The switch from gas to electric is estimated to save around $4,700 each year on energy bills.
• Progressively transitioning Council's fleet to electric vehicles and supporting the roll-out of public chargers.
• Powering Council operations, including all buildings – leisure centres, libraries, children's centres and community centres – and street lighting with  100% renewable electricity (accredited GreenPower).
• Ensuring all new buildings operate on electricity only, while progressively electrifying existing buildings with efficient electric heating cooling, hot water and cooking.
• Constructed a new stormwater harvesting scheme at Jack Roper Reserve, saving around 6.4 million litres of drinking water each year.

• Enabled more than 482 energy saving upgrades in Hume homes through our Hume Home Energy Upgrades program, helping residents lower their bills and improve thermal comfort.

Council's carbon emissions reporting

Each year Council reports under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS) on our carbon emissions. The below document outlines Councils emission breakdown as per the NGERS guidelines and key actions Hume City Council is taking to reduce our greenhouse emissions. 

2024/25

• 2024/25 Hume City Council Corporate GHG emissions(PDF, 223KB)

2023/24

• 2023/24 Hume City Council Corporate GHG emissions(PDF, 206KB)

Climate change pledge

Council endorsed the Climate Change Pledge via the Letter to the Minister for Energy Environment and Climate Change.

Collaborative action

Council is a member of the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA), a network of local councils to share information, coordinate emission reduction and adaptation activities and cooperate on research and development of innovative projects. Eight other local Councils are also members of NAGA: the Cities of Banyule, Darebin, Manningham, Melbourne, Moreland, Whittlesea and Yarra, and Nillumbik Shire Council.

Climate change is already impacting the Hume region in Victoria, with projections indicating more severe effects in the coming decades. The region has experienced prolonged drought conditions and severe weather events. making it particularly vulnerable due to its demographic make-up, biodiversity values and large rural areas.

Key climate change projections for Hume: 

• temperature increase:
  • under a business-as-usual scenario: Average temperatures are likely to rise by approximately 1.5 °C (1.1 to 1.9 °C range) by 2050 and by approximately 3.1 °C (2.2 to 3.6 °C range) by 2090.
  • under a low emissions scenario: Average temperatures will likely increase by approximately 1.1 °C (0.5 to 1.5 °C range) by 2050 with little subsequent warming. 
• rainfall changes:
  • overall decrease in rainfall, particularly in autumn, winter, and spring.
  • more frequent and intense downpours, despite the general drying trend.

• extreme weather events:
  • increase frequency and intensity of storms, strong winds, hail and heavy rainfall.
  • harsher fire weather and longer fire seasons.

Secondary impacts of climate change:
Beyond direct effects, climate change is likely to cause broader environmental, social and economic challenges: 

• health risks:
  • higher rates of heat stress, respiratory problems, and mental health impacts. 
  • increase in infectious disease spread due to changing patterns of mosquito populations. 
• agricultural disruption:
  • some areas may become unsuitable for farming, leading to increase crop damage risks.
• altered ecosystems:
  • changes to biological cycles could reduce pollination rates, affect food production. 
  • biodiversity loss.
• economic strain:
  • rising energy costs due to increase demand of cooling.
  • higher insurance premiums related to climate risks.
• climate migration:
  • population relocating due to climate pressures in their home regions. 

For more information, visit the Victorian Governments (DEEECA) report.

The things we eat, buy and dispose of as waste can also result in greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Here are some ways to reduce your impact:

•  join the Hume Home Energy Upgrades program for help to install energy-efficient appliances, solar, insulation and draught proofing. The program includes Council rebates for concession cardholders.
• advocate for climate action.
• start by having a conversation with friends and family members about climate change.
• eat less red meat and dairy foods (cows and sheep produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas).
• choose local and less-processed foods.
• buy durable products that will last.
• compost or worm farm your food scraps or put them in your food and garden bin (green bin).
• reduce food waste by planning meals and buying only what you need.
• buy appliances with the highest star ratings – they will be cheaper and more efficient to run.
• ask your electricity provider about switching to GreenPower.

Find out more ways to reduce your consumption and correctly dispose of your waste here.