David Risstrom - Greening MelbourneAfter lobbying Parliament in 1989 to create the Victorian Alpine National Park, David completed law, arts and science degrees. Following work for the Australian Centre for Environmental Law, as consultant to the Cth EPA, teacher for the Australian Electoral Commission + Snr. Researcher to the Senate Superannuation C’tee, David begun practice in 1997 as a barrister.

David was Victoria’s first elected Green, serving on Melbourne City Council from 1999 to 2004. His other roles during that time included: Vice President International Council for Local Environment Initiatives Chair MCC Environment, Arts, Sustainability + Indigenous Affairs C’tees Chair Melbourne Affordable Housing Company Chair Metropolitan Transport Forum Convener Metropolitan Environment Forum Director Yarra-Melb. Regional Library + Western Regional Waste Boards Director MAPS Ltd purchasing company Australian Conservation Foundation Councillor Victorian Greens Senate Candidate in the 2004 Federal Election

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneMy project was to ‘Green Melbourne.’ I introduced 140+ initiatives to Melbourne City Council as a Green Councillor. between 1999 and 2004 and published ‘100 Green Achievements’ at www.davidrisstrom.org , including:

$5M Sustainable Melbourne Fund Accountability through Recording Votes in Council Adopting and Promoting The Earth Charter Bringing the Sustainable Living Fair To Melbourne $2M over 2 years for Improved Bicycle Facilities 10,000 Bicycle Parking Spaces in the City by 2010, 20,00 by 2020 Council Car Fleet with Average Fuel Use of 8 litres/100km or less Central City Lending Library for Melbourne ‘Community Power’ Green Energy Discounted MET Tickets for Staff and Community Establishing Melbourne as an International Environmental Leader: CHII Greening Purchasing Across Australia Through MAPS + ICLEI Growing Green: A 50 year Parks and Open Spaces Plan

Greening MelbourneGreening Melbourne Indigenous Reconciliation: Treaty and Indigenous Land Use Agreement Inner City Social Housing + Melbourne Affordable Housing Companies Lighting Strategy for the City Of Melbourne Making the Town Hall the Village Green: ‘Melbourne Conversations’ Melbourne as a Refugee Welcome Zone Metropolitan Environment Forum No Woodchip Sourced Power Organising the Local Government Aspect of the Johannesburg Summit Major Event MET-ticket combinations People's Forum in the Council Chamber Recycled Paper Primarily Used at the City Of Melbourne Reusable Carry Bags: Bagging Melbourne (in a nice way) Setting Australia’s most ambitious Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets and

Achieving Them: 30% Council, 20% community between 1999-2009 Sustainable Water Management - Watermark. 40% Reductions Overall Triple Bottom Line Governance: Economic, Social and Environmental Zero Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions For Melbourne City By 2020

My project was to ‘Green Melbourne’.

How did I start?Began seriously after my election to Melbourne City Council in 1999.Secured positions on transport, environment, purchasing, library, housing, and aboriginal consultative committees and company boards. Elected by international ballot to the International Council For Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) and subsequently elected as Vice President of ICLEI International.Made requests, then demands and backed them up with timelines.

Biggest challenges were associated with culture changeMy presence as a Green allowed good people to do good things.

Things that made a big difference to my project’s success:Establishing a website at www.davidrisstrom.org and recording the 100 Green Achievements and 100 More Green Achievements was invaluable.

My advice to others:Consider my mother’s advice: “Do good things for their own sake.”

Greening MelbourneGreening Melbourne

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneCLIMATE PROTECTION BY REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

City of Melbourne on target of 30% reduction for Council operations and 20% for community by 2010 from 1999 levels.

Goal: Melbourne sets the most ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets of any Australian city and is on path to achieve them.

Australia way off the Kyoto target and unwilling to ratify. An Australian Government report released on 10 December

2003 concluded that Australia is vulnerable to changes in temperature and precipitation projected for the next 50 to 100 years, because it already has extensive arid and semi-arid areas, relatively high rainfall variability from year to year, and existing pressures on water supply in many areas.

Australia and USA were out in the cold internationally.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneZERO NET GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FOR MELBOURNE CITY BY

2020

The City of Melbourne established a zero net greenhouse gas emissions strategy, with a 2020 target.

The City of Melbourne is aiming to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions dramatically to a point that any remaining emissions are offset by carbon sinks financed by the City. Once the Strategy is formed, the City of Melbourne has committed to make the intellectual property and practical information available to Asia-Pacific cities wishing to do likewise.

Presented the proposal in Canberra in 2000 and Wuhan, China in 2002 to APEC

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneQUEEN VICTORIA SOLAR INSTALLATION

A proposal was developed to put photovoltaic cells on the Queen Victoria Market roof.

A $1 Million Federal Government grant was awarded to the City of Melbourne on a matching basis.

There were discussions to modify the grant to allow for a different energy collection system to be used, based on a high temperature liquid countercurrent heat exchange system.

Design + installation by BP Solar and Origin Energy completed May 03.

The 1328 Solar panels on the Queen Victoria Market site can now generate 252 megawatts of electricity each year, which is enough electricity to power 63 homes.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneREFUSE POWER GENERATION SOURCED FROM WOODCHIPS

The City of Melbourne refuses to accept electricity sourced from the burning of woodchips.

The Federal Government adopted a definition of renewable energy that includes the burning of woodchips for power generation.

The City of Melbourne rejected this definition of renewable energy, and has unanimously adopted a motion I moved in 2002 refusing to purchase electricity sourced from the burning of woodchips.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneLIGHTING STRATEGY

The City of Melbourne is implementing an 'enlightened' approach to lighting by combining intelligent design, placement and light usage to achieve energy savings, greenhouse gas reductions and better lighting.

The Lighting Strategy is the policy and operational document that, in its own words, 'provides for the responsible use of energy to enhance people's experience of the city after dark.

‘Dumped’ lights from USA (Mercury halide?)

Implementation of the Strategy is over a 5 year period to 2006.

Greening MelbourneGreening Melbourne‘COMMUNITY POWER’ GREEN ENERGY

Community Power is a not for profit, renewable electricity buying group made up of the City of Melbourne, Darebin City Council, the Moreland Energy Foundation and the City of Yarra.

Initiative to increase the buying power of residents who wish to buy 'green energy' [in contrast to black energy made from polluting sources such as coal, nuclear, oil, etc.].

'Accredited green power' and 'renewable energy' are two energy options included in the current community power offer. 'Accredited Green Power' is a renewable energy source from nationally accredited generators. 'Renewable energy' shares all the characteristics of Green Power except that it is sourced from generators commissioned prior to 1997 and is therefore not credited under the National Green Power Scheme.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneBRINGING THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING FAIR TO MELBOURNE

The Sustainable Living Fair is a public event promoting and displaying organisations, businesses and ideas promoting environmental sustainability

I thought it would be good to have the Sustainable Living Fair brought to the Melbourne so that more people understand what they can do to improve our environment. I suggested the organisers consider moving the Sustainable Living Fair to somewhere within the City of Melbourne

First Sustainable Living Fair in Melbourne was in 2001, and is now annual.

Greening MelbourneGreening Melbourne$5 MILLION SUSTAINABLE MELBOURNE FUND

The City of Melbourne has established a $5 million Sustainable Melbourne Fund to further environmental Sustainability in the City of Melbourne.

In 1999 I proposed that the City Of Melbourne establish a trust fund to provide finance to projects and groups that want to do things to further environmental sustainability in the City of Melbourne.Launched in 2003.

Allows for draw down of its capital, providing financial assistance and investment in specific projects that enhance the environment, community and economic benefits for the people of Melbourne.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneA 20 YEAR WATER MANAGEMENT REGIME

The City of Melbourne has established and using a 20 year sustainable water management regime.

The purpose of setting a 20 year water management regime is to intelligently develop a means of conserving and better using our scarce water resources where they are needed.

Watermark has a target of reducing water consumption by 12% by 2020, compared to an estimated business-as-usual approach resulting in a 100% increase by 2020. This equates to a 40% reduction in residential, commercial and industrial water consumption per capita, and a 40% reduction in water use by the City of Melbourne in its operations.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbournePARTICIPATION IN 2002 JOHANNESBURG WORLD SUMMIT ON

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

International Council For Local Environment Initiatives organised the local government part of the Johannesburg World Summit.

The City of Melbourne was an active participant in the Local Government Session of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.

The Melbourne Principles for Sustainable Development were adopted by the session and ultimately presented to the major plenary on behalf of local government worldwide.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneIMPLEMENTING TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE

I moved a motion in 1999 requiring the City of Melbourne to adopt Triple Bottom Line accounting.

Aims to inculcate triple bottom line considerations into decisions it makes. Extends to requiring suppliers to satisfy triple bottom line criteria.

Triple bottom line is an extension of the modern tradition of the economic bottom line to include social and environmental bottom lines.

Required 'environmental attachments' on the environmental implications of decisions put before Council.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneADOPT THE EARTH CHARTER AND PROMOTE ITS AIMS

Melbourne City Council has adopted and promotes the Earth Charter.

The Earth Charter is a declaration on environment, social justice, democracy and peace which was initiated prior to the Earth Summit in 1992 and finalised in March 2000.

The Charter sets forth values and principles underpinning a Worldwide Sustainability Strategy for the 21st century.

Endorsement of the Earth Charter by individuals or organisations signifies a commitment to the spirit and aims of the document.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneMONTHLY, 6 MONTHLY OR YEARLY MET TICKETS AT 10% DISCOUNT FOR RESIDENTS OF METROPOLITAN MELBOURNE

Discounted monthly, 6 monthly and yearly MET public transport tickets are available for purchase by residents of Greater Melbourne.

As a means of increasing public transport patronage, reducing the need for enforcement and the cost of administering the ticket system, I proposed in a January 2002 letter to the public transport operators that the City of Melbourne be a pilot for providing discounted tickets to residents of the City of Melbourne.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneRECYCLED PAPER AT THE CITY OF MELBOURNE

The City of Melbourne uses 100% post consumer waste paper for its printing and copying needs.

Office paper is sourced from a variety of sources. When office paper is made from recycled material, it reduces the amount of wood from trees that needs to be sourced from our forests.

Using recycled paper is a way of increasing the efficiency of use of the original forest products by using them more than once. It also reduces the amount of used paper in the waste stream filling up our municipal tip sites.

100% post-consumer waste paper means that 100% of the paper used to make the product you buy has been used at least once before.

Greening MelbourneGreening MelbourneACHIEVE INDIGENOUS RECONCILIATION

To discuss with our indigenous and non-indigenous communities what can be agreed upon to achieve reconciliation and to do it. Consultation with Indigenous spokespersons and organisations in

relation to the development of an Indigenous Employment Strategy; Reaffirm the Statement of Commitment to Indigenous Australians; Establishment of an Indigenous Unit within the City of Melbourne.

Greening MelbourneGreening Melbourne Commence a 12 month discussion between the City of

Melbourne, its constituents, ATSIC and the wider indigenous community on how to advance reconciliation in the City of Melbourne. As a means of achieving broad community involvement, the City of Melbourne commits to initiate discussions on options for:

1· Negotiating a land use agreement 2. Identifying and acknowledging our pre-European history in the

City of Melbourne. 3. Providing current and future staff and councillors with the

opportunity to participate in cross-cultural awareness training. 4. Increasing the involvement of indigenous people in the delivery

of services for and on behalf of the City of Melbourne. 5. Flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags during

important times such as NAIDOC week. 6. A strategy to advance representation by Indigenous councillors.

Greening MelbourneGreening Melbourne1% FOR HUMANITY

Citizens of the City of Melbourne and beyond donate 1% of their taxable income to an organisation of their choice that assists developing countries.

Individuals choose to make a donation or donations to organisations such as Community Aid Abroad, World Vision, Medicines Sans Frontiers or International Help Fund Australia that have strong reputations for providing unconditional assistance to people of less fortunate developing countries.