Australian city first: Development applications to include renewable energy targets at this Sydney council
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Development applications to City of Sydney will need to include energy efficiency and renewable energy targets, in an Australian city first.
The move to require new office buildings, hotels and shopping centres to transition to net-zero emissions was endorsed by council last night and is expected to save investors, businesses and occupants $1.3 billion in energy bills.
“Commercial office space, hotels and apartment buildings contribute 68 percent of total emissions in the city,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. “If we’re to meet our target of net-zero emissions by 2035, we need the building sector to play its part.
“These new controls, four years in the making, require developers to reduce emissions through increased energy efficiency, on-site renewable energy production and offsite renewable energy procurement.
“They are ambitious but achievable and provide a clear pathway for developers to improve energy performance and transition to net zero buildings.”
Ms Moore said the amendments were designed to provide developers with clarity in the structure and operation of the controls, especially in regards to the refurbishment of existing buildings. Council said they have been created with the support of developers, industry bodies and government agencies. Six developers, including Stockland, Frasers, Lendlease, Mirvac, Dexus and Crown Group wrote to City of Sydney in support of the proposed development standards, council said.
“Working with our major developers and building owners to address the climate crisis could not be more important,” Ms Moore said. “Not only will this program help us reach our target of net-zero emissions by 2035, it will provide energy savings of more than $1.3 billion for investors, businesses and occupants across Greater Sydney.”
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Soneva’s groundbreaking Coral Restoration Program in the Maldives has been endorsed by the United Nations and listed on UNESCO’s Ocean Decade platform, recognising it as a global model for reef regeneration and sustainable marine science.
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In a landmark moment for marine conservation, the Soneva Foundation’s Coral Restoration Program has received official endorsement from the United Nations and been listed on the UNESCO Ocean Decade website — an international recognition of its pioneering work in large-scale reef restoration.
Based in the Maldives and operating from Soneva Fushi’s AquaTerra science centre, the program is now the region’s largest coral restoration facility. Combining advanced marine biology with local collaboration, it has redefined how the tourism sector can contribute meaningfully to ocean health.
What sets the program apart is its blend of innovation and scale. The facility includes a Coral Spawning and Rearing Lab—Maldives’ first of its kind—replicating natural reef conditions to stimulate coral reproduction. Thirty micro-fragmentation tanks further accelerate coral growth, enabling up to 150,000 coral fragments to be produced and replanted on damaged reefs each year.
Since launching in 2022, Soneva’s coral team has relocated more than 31,000 coral colonies and fragments from threatened areas, establishing a thriving coral hub in the Indian Ocean.
he initiative is managed by Soneva Conservation, a Maldivian NGO set up by the Soneva Foundation, and forms part of the group’s broader sustainability strategy.
“This milestone is a testament to the scientific rigour and community-driven ethos at the heart of our work,” Dr Johanna Leonhardt, Soneva’s Coral Project Manager, said. “It validates the potential of hospitality to lead ocean regeneration at scale.”
Beyond science, the program engages governments, NGOs, research institutions and the wider tourism industry—demonstrating how cross-sector partnerships can drive real environmental impact.
The UN recognition now positions the project as a beacon for similar initiatives globally, reinforcing the Maldives’ role as both a luxury destination and a marine conservation leader.
The Soneva Foundation’s wider environmental efforts include carbon mitigation projects, reforestation, and waste-to-wealth innovation. As part of the Pallion group, Soneva continues to redefine what it means to be a responsible luxury brand.
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