Located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Newcastle is the second-largest local government area outside Greater Sydney, with a population of 176,860 (2024 data). The city is an economic hub for the region, with industries ranging from agriculture to coal mining. Newcastle was the first NSW council to switch entirely to renewable energy and declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. It is working to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 in line with the Paris Agreement. Recent initiatives include replacing streetlights with energy-efficient LEDs, constructing a solar farm on a former landfill site, and investing in renewable energy projects. The Council emphasises collective community action in building climate resilience.