The City of Sydney’s efforts to tackle climate change have been given a ringing endorsement by the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

“The City of Sydney’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 presents a bold and compelling vision for how this centrally located area will tackle climate change, global competition, transportation congestion, and half a dozen other major challenges over the next 20 years,” the OECD report says.

“The Council of the City aspires to be a global leader and through leadership of the Lord Mayor and its Sustainable Sydney 2030 framework, the city has articulated a vision for a global, green and connected city.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City’s long term plans to tackle climate change started seven years ago with an unprecedented community consultation.

“People said they wanted us to tackle climate change, cut traffic congestion and reconnect Sydney to its harbour and surrounding villages – that overwhelming community consensus has now received international support and recognition,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Sydney has extraordinary potential to pursue economic growth and wealth with lower carbon emissions, the report’s authors say, and while our work at the City was highlighted, it’s time local strategies and activities were coordinated right across the metropolitan area.”

The OECD report Climate Change, Employment and Local Development looked at how cities and regions are creating green jobs and developing a skilled workforce to meet the needs of a greener economy.

According to the report, Sydney’s strengths for the green economy include:

• Dense networks of globally competitive firms with strong links to the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in finance and business services
• A strong awareness about the threat of global warming and the need for concerted action
• An advanced economy with strong research, technological capabilities and skills base
• A globally recognised higher education and vocational education and training system
• Well-developed infrastructure, outstanding amenities and living environment that is attractive to mobile knowledge workers.

The report said a snapshot of Australia’s green potential suggested more than 100,000 new jobs have already been created in environmental protection industries, clean-tech companies, eco-tourism, waste disposal, environmental science and the recycling sector, contributing around $65 billion to the economy.

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