One of Australia’s most iconic buildings has announced its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of a push to inspire social and environmental change.
The Sydney Opera House is the first major Australian arts institution to agree to meet the SDGs, and has adopted nine goals it believes it can have the greatest impact on.
These include: Reduce inequality; Responsible consumption and production; Sustainable Cities; and Climate action.
The aims were embedded into the Opera House’s Accessibility, Environmental and Reconciliation Action Plans, released last month. It has also pledged to take a series of actions ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2023.
Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron said the organisation had championed environmental sustainability, creativity, diversity and respect for heritage since it opened in 1973.
“The Opera House is committed to the ideals and values encapsulated in the Global Goals, which can only be achieved through global action,” she said.
“The ambitious community plans … outline how we will continue to support inclusion, diversity and equality, and help safeguard our natural environment.”
As part of its commitment to climate action, the Opera House will implement a pathway to become ‘climate positive’ by 2023.
It currently maintains a carbon-neutral certification and sources more than 85% of its power from wind and solar projects.
The organisation aims to reduce its energy consumption by 20% over the next three years and will invest in more renewable energy in New South Wales as part of its annual electricity spend.
It will also prepare a Climate Change Adaptation Plan by 2021, to identify potential climate-related risks to the building.
Find out more about the Sydney Opera House and the SDGs here.
by Water Source
