Darebin's climate action

Conservation group meeting in park

In 2016, Darebin became the first government in the world to declare a climate emergency. Since then, more than 2,360 governments worldwide have followed our lead. 

Darebin was one of the first councils to create a Climate Emergency Plan. The actions we implemented as part of this plan reduced our own council emissions by 71%. We are working to further reduce our impact and build climate resilience in Darebin with our current Climate Emergency Plan.

Our Climate Emergency Plan 2024–2030

Adopted unanimously in July 2024, this plan guides our work to cut emissions, prepare for climate impacts, and support our community. Over 1,500 residents and organisations helped shape the plan, calling for urgent action and support for those most affected.

Read the Climate Emergency Plan 2024–2030(PDF, 19MB)

What we achieved in 2025–26

Caring for Country

  • 1,200+ new street trees planted
  • 17 community initiatives and volunteer opportunities were supported to strengthen the community’s connection with the local natural environment

Moving towards zero emissions

  • 10 Council sites have been disconnected from the gas network
  • The Darebin Energy Upgrades Program was launched and received over 400 registrations and delivered over 130 energy upgrades 
  • 2 battery electric vehicles (BEV), 1 BEV shuttle bus and 4 electric leaf blowers were purchased and are now used in Council operations

Supporting community resilience

  • Darebin Heat Health program distributed 800+ resources including 150 fans, 120 cooling neck scarves, 200 spray bottles, 100 water bottles hydrolyte and Keep Cool Maps
  • Misting system installed at SPAN Community House, allowing community members to access the garden at any time and use it as a cooling space on hot days
  • $50,000 in community grants for 11 climate focused community projects
  • Council delivered knowledge sharing campaigns on electrification, circularity, heat health as well as 24 climate and circularity events attended by over 600 community members

Leading innovation on climate

  • Greening Our Business online tool was launched and supported 13 Darebin businesses so far with customised sustainability action plans
  • Partnership and collaborative work with organisations including Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA), M9 group of councils to achieve regional and system change

Victorian Energy Collaboration

In 2021 Darebin led the establishment and coordination of Victorian Energy Collaboration which now reduces the electricity emissions of 61 councils to zero. Since its conception, the project has:

  • supplied 849 GWh of energy to 61 Victorian Councils
  • reduced carbon emission by 750,000 tCO2e, equivalent to avoiding the combustion of 1,000,000 tonnes of brown coal for electricity.

Why it matters for Darebin

Climate change is already affecting our community here in Darebin. Rising greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are driving hotter temperatures, extreme weather, and changing local conditions.

We’re seeing:

  • longer, more dangerous heatwaves
  • smoke from bushfires reducing air quality
  • flooding that damages homes and businesses
  • storms that cut power and put lives at risk
  • impacts on food supply and fresh produce.

These events affect everyone and put extra pressure on Council services, from emergency response to maintaining safe infrastructure.

Learn more about climate change from the Climate Council

Take action

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