Our Climate Action Plan
The Newcastle Climate Action Plan 2026 - 2030 (CAP 2030) is a roadmap to achieve net zero emissions from City of Newcastle's operations by 2030 and to support a Newcastle-wide transition to net zero by 2040.
It outlines the actions we will take to reduce the impacts of climate change, recognising that cutting emissions also improves our quality of life, supports equity, strengthens our local economy and builds a more resilient city.
In June 2026, following extensive community consultation, Council adopted the CAP 2030.
- Read the CAP 2030
- View the engagement reports
- Read our Newcastle Environment Strategy which also outlines how we will assist our community transition to a net zero future.
Science based targets
If we are to significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change, we need to limit global average temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to have a good chance of staying within 1.5°C, the world needs to reach net zero emissions by around 2040.
The CAP2030 targets reflect this urgency and aligns with the IPCC 1.5°C net zero pathways
How you can get involved
Achieving our targets will take all of us.
Through Empowering Newcastle, our award-winning community climate action program, residents, community groups and small businesses can access programs and services to take practical climate action.
A holistic approach to climate action
Climate action isn’t just about emissions and technology.
It’s also about shifting social norms, redesigning economic systems, and embedding equity and wellbeing into climate solutions.
That’s why the CAP 2030’s 77 actions are embedded across the four pillars of Newcastle 2040: Liveable, Sustainable, Creative and Achieving Together.
This approach aligns with Mission Innovation's 'Flourishing Lives 4 All' initiative in which climate action focuses on a positive vision for the future and what we need more of, rather than focusing on what we need less of.
Delivering the CAP 2030
The actions in the CAP 2030 have been designed to establish a realistic and achievable pathway to our operational and community net zero targets. Implementing them will require clear prioritisation and staging.
The preferred and most cost-effective pathway may change over time, due to factors such as technological advances and the cost of climate action activities. We will regularly review and refine our approach to achieve the greatest impact.
Towards a net zero Newcastle by 2040
Empowering Newcastle, our community climate action program, focuses on six strategic opportunities to progress a net zero Newcastle by 2040.
See pages 44 to 47 of the CAP 2030 for more details about these six strategic opportunities.
Towards net zero emissions from City of Newcastle's operations by 2030
To achieve net zero emissions from our own operations by 2030, we have identified six strategic opportunities where we can have the greatest impact.
See pages 54 to 57 of the CAP 2030 for more details about these six strategic opportunities.
