Business & economy

Transitioning to net zero and circularity to mitigate risks to the economy and create new jobs

Sydney’s transition to a net zero, climate positive economy is central to its long-term prosperity. A sustainable economy supports green skills, low-carbon industries and resilient local businesses that can adapt to global shifts in technology, climate and consumer expectations.

Our work focuses on demonstrating global leadership in the transition to net zero, growing investment and innovation in green and net zero sectors of the economy, supporting local businesses to transition, and promoting circularity and sustainability in waste management.

This includes using 100% renewable electricity in our properties, upgrading buildings to be more energy efficient and supporting businesses to adopt circular practices through CitySwitch and our circular economy resources. We also support innovation by helping climate-tech companies like Greenhouse Climate Tech Hub grow and we back organisations like Seamless to trial new ways to cut waste and recover materials.

Ensuring equitable access to participate and share in our prosperity

An inclusive economy ensures that the benefits of growth are shared across communities, sectors and cultural groups. Our work focuses on:

• increasing the supply of social and affordable housing
• removing barriers to employment
• supporting diverse entrepreneurs
• strengthening pathways into employment and education
• ensuring Sydney remains a welcoming and accessible place for workers, students and visitors from around the world.

We’re expanding opportunities for Indigenous enterprise, backing diverse small businesses through grants and advisory programs, and improving access to jobs and training for young people and international students. Our work with community organisations, education providers and industry partners helps ensure Sydney’s economic success is built on participation, equity and shared prosperity. 

To achieve this, we’re supporting initiatives that put inclusion into practice. The annual Lord Mayor’s welcome event brings hundreds of new international students into the civic and cultural life of the city each year. It helps them build networks, access support services and creates a sense of belonging.

Across our library network, free programs create accessible entry points into learning, employment and community connection – from digital literacy and English conversation classes to youth study support and a STEM workshop series for women, young people and people with disability. We’re also embedding community wealth building principles in our own operations by strengthening local procurement.

Embracing new ideas to support our competitiveness and resilience

Innovation is a defining strength of Sydney’s global identity. By nurturing the city’s research, technology and creative ecosystems, we’re helping to drive new industries, attract global talent and support high-value jobs. We’re targeting 200,000 new jobs by 2036, with 70% in knowledge and innovation-intensive industries.

Our focus is on positioning Sydney as an attractive place for international talent and investment, promoting clusters of industries and businesses, boosting the innovation ecosystem and supporting local businesses to innovate and adopt new technologies. 

Our support includes the Tech Central innovation district by partnering with the NSW Government, universities and industry to position Tech Central as a global leader. We’re upskilling our local business community through programs like Reboot and the AI Bootcamp that help creative and tech-driven businesses grow.   We’re also investing in precincts and infrastructure that enable experimentation, digital capability and cross-sector collaboration, ensuring Sydney remains a leading hub for innovation in the Asia–Pacific. 

Fuelling vitality for a culturally rich, diverse and safe city

Sydney’s cultural life, public spaces and visitor experiences are essential to its global appeal and local vibrancy. An experiential economy strengthens the city’s reputation as a place of creativity, connection and worldclass events – supporting jobs, attracting visitors and enriching everyday life for residents.

Our focus is recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and embedding it into the experience of Sydney, embracing the character of distinct local places, supporting vibrancy in the city, and investing in public domain and connectivity improvements to and through the city.

We’re investing in major cultural and creative initiatives, enhancing the night-time economy, and supporting events and festivals that showcase Sydney’s identity on the national and global stage. Year-round celebrations – from New Years Eve and Sydney Lunar Festival to precinct activations like Sydney Streets – bring people together, energise local businesses and reinforce Sydney as a city of culture and connection.

We’re also strengthening place identity and storytelling through projects like Yananurala, which shares Aboriginal histories and perspectives along the harbour foreshore. Alongside this, we’re revitalising key precincts including Oxford Street and Haymarket, with place identity at its heart.

We’re focusing on improving major transport links across the city. Building on the success of the George Street light rail and its transformation into a pedestrian‑friendly street, the proposed Broadway light rail make it easier for people to walk, move around and connect between inner‑city neighbourhoods. It will also give more direct access to important cultural and employment areas. We’re also bolstering the visitor economy through partnerships with tourism, hospitality and cultural organisations that help amplify Sydney’s unique experiences.

Collectively, this work strengthens Sydney’s cultural vibrancy and economic appeal, making it a city people choose to visit, invest in and experience again.