Reducing your community group's impact

Four people seen from behind using a NSW Government Return and Earn Reverse vending machine

Community group action on climate change and sustainability

The NSW climate has already changed, and further change will happen. But it’s not too late to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. By reducing our emissions now, we can still reduce the level of climate change that we can expect in the future.

Community groups can contribute to this goal by working on community sustainability projects and making small changes in the group’s activities and processes to reduce carbon emissions and reduce negative impacts on the environment. There is also the opportunity to form a community group to promote sustainability and emissions reduction activities. Community groups can also share information within a community, to help support and encourage other sustainability efforts.

For project ideas, take a look at the advice on how local councils and authorities can adapt and reduce their impact on climate change. Support may be available for such work, for example the Powering Communities Program provides $10.2 million in grants to not-for-profit community organisations to help them to reduce their energy use, improve energy productivity and reduce emissions. 

Energy

Community groups can think about how to save energy and money, particularly in the premises and appliances they use.

The Australian Government’s energy.gov.au website has information on energy efficiency and sustainability, and you can also find out about rebates available to help you improve your sustainability.

Many other resources are available to help you consider and reduce your energy use, such as:

  • The NSW government's energy saver website.
  • A Greenhouse around the Corner – a video series about 6 community and education centres that implement energy-efficiency solutions to reduce cost and make the buildings more comfortable
  • the 3E – Enable Energy Efficiency program has information on energy efficiency information in different languages, including case studies and videos. The site was developed by the Community Migrant Resource Centre and can help culturally and linguistically diverse businesses and communities identify opportunities to reduce energy costs.
  • the Save it for the Game program educates Victorian sports club members to dramatically reduce their club’s energy bills. The program was developed by Victoria’s South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) and has helped clubs save an average of 26% off their energy bills. You can read case studies on the SECCCA website.
  • Catholic Earthcare Australia, which publishes environmental information for places of worship on its website.
Transport

Community groups and members often travel for meetings or events. You can take advantage of the numbers in your group to reduce private vehicle use. Consider carpooling, which is especially useful if an event such as sport is held a long distance away. You can also consider active forms of transport such as walking or biking, which you can do as a group.

For meetings, you can use virtual meetings for some get-togethers. You can also support ideas that promote change among the community, such as walk-to-work or walking-school-bus campaigns.

Waste

Food and packaging waste is a big problem that we can all help reduce. Sharing food is a large part of community groups, and therefore it is important to have sustainable processes in place. Ideas to reduce waste include: 

  • using reusable cutlery and plates, which can be purchased cheaply from charity shops or borrowed from stuff libraries – consider using biodegradable options if reusable items aren’t available and make sure to avoid single-use plastic
  • purchasing food items such as tea and coffee in bulk – this will save your organisation money and reduce packaging waste.

Related Information

NSW Energy Saver - NSW Government

Your Home - Australian Government

Return and Earn - NSW Government

Energy Switch - NSW Government

Green Power - Australian Government

Green Vehicle Guide - Australian Government

NSW Transport electric vehicles guide - NSW government

Return and Earn - NSW Government

Food organics and garden organics - NSW EPA

Case studies

Landcare volunteers planting along upper Deua catchment
NSW/ Statewide
Communities
Flood
26 Jul 2024
Harnessing the collective strength of landholders and community champions, the Upper Deua Catchment Landcare Group is confronting a century-old environmental disaster, restoring a local river system and helping people adapt to a changing climate.
Artwork is an abstract visual map of the Australian cultural landscape past, present, and future. Caring for Country by Maddison Gibbs
Cultural values
Communities
10 Oct 2023

The importance of the land to wellbeing cannot be understated, which is why strategies to combat and manage the impacts of climate change are crucial.  Aboriginal people have been using generational knowledge of land and sea management in response to changing climates over thousands of years.

e The first holistic adaptation plan aims to protect a world heritage rainforest from climate change impacts
Drought
Communities
Natural environment
NSW/ Statewide
22 Sep 2023

The NSW Government has created the first holistic adaptation plan to protect a World Heritage rainforest from climate change impacts – and now ground-breaking genetic science is giving some rare and threatened species a helping hand to adapt and evolve.