Making our community healthier, fairer and more liveable as we address climate change.

How do we get Curtin to net zero? 

This is the critical decade for climate action. 

We need to rapidly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Luckily, the main sources of emissions in Curtin are some of the easiest to decarbonise so we can, and should, get Curtin close to net zero by 2035 and well before 2050. 

Getting to net zero means doing something different for each source of emissions. Curtin’s Pathway to Net Zero looks at what we need to change in five key aspects of our lives:  

  • Electricity 

  • Buildings 

  • Transport 

  • Urban greening 

  • Waste 

Electricity 

51% of Curtin’s emissions come from burning coal and gas to generate electricity.  We need 100% of our electricity supply to come from renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.

  1. Achieve close to 100% renewable energy generation 

  2. Increase storage capacity 

  3. Upgrade the network 

  4. Manage demand with a smart, flexible grid 

Buildings

Improving the energy efficiency of our buildings will reduce electricity demand and electricity emissions (51%). Electrifying our gas appliances gets rid of our gas emissions (4%). By building more sustainably, we can reduce emissions from building construction.

Using buildings

  1. Make buildings renewables-ready 

  2. Reduce demand through energy efficiency 

  3. Electrify everything  

Constructing buildings 

  1. Use existing buildings better

  2. Work towards zero carbon construction 

  3. Density done right 

Transport

35% of Curtin’s emissions come from transport, and nearly all of this is from petrol and diesel cars. We need to reduce car dependency and switch to zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs).

Reducing car dependency

  1. Reduce the need to travel

  2. Stop expanding roads in congested urban areas 

  3. Increase walking and cycling 

  4. Increase public transport 

Switching our vehicles 

  1. 100% zero emissions light vehicle sales by 2035

  2. Decarbonise freight and public transport 

  3. Establish an integrated EV charging network  

Urban greening

Plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere, reducing our emissions.  Urban vegetation also cools down our cities, provides homes for wildlife, and improves our physical and mental health. We need to protect and increase our urban vegetation.

  1. Protect existing vegetation

  2. Plant more plants  

  3. Plant different plants  

  4. Plant in the right place

Waste

7% of Curtin’s emissions come from organic matter (made from plants and animals) decomposing in landfill. Most plastics are made from fossil fuels, which we need to phase out to reach net zero. We need to reduce our organic and plastic waste and recover or recycle the rest.

  1. Reduce waste production  

  2. Recover and recycle the rest 

Making net zero possible

To make the journey to net zero as smooth, fair, and fast as possible, we need to: 

  1. Phase out fossil fuels

  2. Ensure a just transition

  3. Engage with the community 

  4. Secure the supply chain 

  5. Foster innovation and creativity 

Co-benefits of climate solutions  

Our journey towards net zero is not just about reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, but also about creating healthy, clean, and inclusive communities we all want to live in.  Many net zero solutions also help address other social, economic, and environmental problems, including:

Curtin’s Pathway to Net Zero report is the result of many months of work by more than 50 volunteers from the local community. This year, we will be running community events and activities to reduce local emissions, including home electrification, active transport for schools, native verge makeovers and Plastic Free July. We will also be engaging in policy advocacy to encourage governments to adopt the policies outlined in the report. 

New volunteers are always welcome. Go here to join us. 

Community Projects

Our community projects are about encouraging local action.

Electrify Curtin will help residents electrify their appliances and retrofit for energy efficiency, lowering bills and emissions at the same time.

Clean Air for Curtin is monitoring air quality at schools around the electorate to highlight the health impacts of vehicle pollution and encourage sustainable travel.

Native Verge Makeovers are making it easy to plant your own native verge and organising volunteer planting days to transform the verges of a few deserving locals.

Curtin’s Plastic Free July will challenge you to reduce single-use plastics and reduce plastic waste.

 

New volunteers are always welcome. Email Kate.Chaney.MP@aph.gov.au to join us.

ELECTRIFY CURTIN

Electricity generation is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Curtin, followed by transport. Electrifying our buildings and transport to run on renewable energy would cut 90% of Curtin’s emissions.

Electrifying our homes and improving their energy efficiency will lower energy bills, reduce emissions, and improve our health and comfort - all at the same time.

Electrify Curtin is a group of optimistic, local volunteers with a mission to electrify the electorate. We’re here to help you plan your transition, and set you on a path toward a brighter, cleaner future.

Visit our brand new website to start your electrification journey.

CLEAN AIR FOR CURTIN

In Australia, more people die each year from vehicle exhaust pollution than from road crashes.

Not only do petrol and diesel engines produce greenhouse gas emissions, they also emit pollutants such as NO2, SOX, CO and PM2.5, which have a severe impact on health.

When we breathe them in, these pollutants cause an inflammatory response that can lead to premature heart, lung and vascular disease, and all types of cancer.

Air pollution is more concentrated close to its source. Idling queues at school drop offs and pickups can have particularly high concentrations of pollutants, exposing children’s developing lungs to dangerous exhaust fumes.

We want to start a conversation about the health impacts of air pollution and driving kids to school.

Join our citizen science project to monitor air quality at your school in Curtin.

Sign up here

Download the participant pack here

Submit your results [TBA]

NATIVE VERGE MAKEOVERS

Greener landscapes help fight climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and naturally cooling their surrounds. They also clean the air and improve our mental health. Native vegetation reduces water use and provides homes for wildlife, especially when planted in corridors connecting parks and reserves.

Native verges are an easy way to increase vegetation in Curtin, and most local Councils already encourage residents to plant one. Here’s a handy summary:

LGA Verge policy online Permission required? Maximum plant height (1.5 m from kerb) Native Plant subsidy scheme Other incentives
Cambridge YES no 75 yes Waterwise rebate up to $500
Claremont YES YES 50 yes
Cottesloe YES YES
$205 fee		 60 yes Waterwise verge rebate (max $500)
Mosman Park YES YES 60 yes
Nedlands YES (guidelines) no 60 yes
Peppermint Grove NO Native verge not permitted n/a n/a n/a
Perth s2.7-2.11 of local law no 10 no
Stirling YES no 50 FREE plants Rebate (max $500)
Subiaco YES no Low growing non-hazardous waterwise plants yes Waterwise rebate up to $500

Here’s how to do a Native Verge Makeover: click here to download

We have several free designs below that you can use for your own verge:
Low maintenance verge design
Coastal verge design
Biodiversity verge design
Noongar seasons verge design

Curtin Green Corridor Map

We’re also organising several volunteer planting days. Sign up here to be notified.

PLASTIC FREE JULY

Plastic Free July is a month-long challenge to reduce plastic pollution by choosing to refuse single-use plastics. This global movement of over 100 million people in 190 countries started right here in Curtin in 2011 at our West Metro Recycling Centre. What a proud Curtin export!

This year, I'll be hosting Curtin’s very own Plastic Free July, with a weekly challenge to tackle different types of single-use plastics. Our challenges will help you make easy changes to reduce plastic waste and highlight where we need Government leadership to tackle the plastics problem. I hope you’ll join me.

Sign up here Curtin's Plastic Free July to get your weekly challenge, local plastic-free shopping advice, and learn more about the need for better plastics policy.

For local Curtin resources to help you go plastic free, use the following links:

Introduction
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Full document (all of the above in one file)