University students have been challenged to help the City of Melville reduce its emissions as part of the Curtin University Sustainability Challenge.
What is the Curtin University Sustainability Challenge?
The challenge aims to bring together interdisciplinary teams to tackle real-world sustainability problems. The City of Melville was one of five groups to participate in the program.
Students' Task: Improving Emission Inventory Accuracy
Students were asked to help improve the accuracy of the city's greenhouse gas emission inventory, specifically focusing on Scope 3 emissions. These are emissions caused by things an organisation buys, uses, throws away or outsources.
City's Climate Goals
Acting Mayor Glynis Barber said the city is committed to achieving carbon neutrality as an organisation by 2030 and net zero across the city by 2050 to help combat the effects of climate change.
“We’re excited to see what solutions these students come up with and hope these findings can be used across other local governments committed to creating climate resilient and prepared communities,” she said.
Background on Climate Action
The city declared a climate emergency in 2021 before announcing its current action policy in 2022. In February, the city voted to ban artificial turf on roadside verges due to sustainability concerns.
The five-day challenge ended on Monday, June 29.
