Welcome to Resilient Sydney
The future is collaboration
Resilient Sydney is a collaboration of the 33 councils of Greater Sydney working together to drive region-scale action that strengthens our city’s ability to survive, adapt and thrive in the face of chronic stresses and acute shocks. Resilient Sydney builds capacity across local government to address city-wide risks and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Our mission
Collaborate to manage risk and build resilience in Greater Sydney through knowledge sharing, capacity building and planning for our communities, infrastructure, and natural environment.
Global leadership on resilience
Resilient Sydney
In 2015 the City of Sydney won a place in the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities initiative, establishing the network of councils across Greater Sydney and the Resilient Sydney Office. The first Resilient Sydney Strategy was released in 2018.
Based on a risk assessment and multi-sector and community engagement, this cemented the partnership between all 33 councils in Greater Sydney and guided our work to manage economic, social and environmental disasters and disruptions in our region.
As part of the global Resilient Cities Network, the second Resilient Sydney Strategy 2025-2030 was launched in 2025, with five core directions and 30 actions addressing our regions vulnerabilities and shared city-wide priorities for a future-ready city.
Local coordination
The Resilience Ambassadors’ network started in 2016. It brings together over 150 Resilience Champions from Sydney’s 33 local governments. The network collaborates to prepare for disruption across the city’s systems, businesses and communities.
Resilience ambassadors of Greater Sydney councils, meeting in Willoughby April 2026.
The resilience challenges facing Greater Sydney cannot be solved individually.
They require a collaborative effort from local, state and federal governments, business and community.
Working together, in genuine partnership, will ensure Greater Sydney is a place where all communities thrive.
“I have been delighted to host the Resilient Sydney office for the past 10 years. The Resilient Sydney network is more important than ever as we work together to future proof our city.”
Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO 
Collaborating organisations
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Environment under pressure and increasing extreme weather events -
Inequitable services and opportunities -
Depleted community wellbeing and waning sense of community -
Using lessons learnt to better prepare and respond in the future -
Complex governance in the context of declining trust
How are these being addressed?
The Strategy contains five directions with 30 actions that, delivered through collaboration across all levels of government, national state and local, and partnerships with business and communities, would significantly improve our region’s resilience. What we heard from Sydney’s communities and technical stakeholders are captured in the Strategy and supporting documents.
The development of the Strategy was funded through the joint Australian and NSW Government Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership.
- Direction 1 Care for the environment A city where we care for the environment and live sustainably
- Direction 2 People-centred city An equitable city with climate resilient neighbourhoods
- Direction 3 Connect for strength An inclusive city that supports social connections and community agency
- Direction 4 Be ready A city where people and organisations are prepared for emergencies
- Direction 5 One city A city with coordinated governance that people trust
Snapshot of Greater Sydney
People
5,638,830
66% of NSW's and 21% of Australia's population
Density per km²
429
25/km² in Hawkesbury vs. 8,173/km² in City of Sydney
GDP
$490 B
68% of NSW GDP, 25% of Australian GDP
Cultures
200+
41% of residents born overseas
LGAs
33
Local government areas
Solar PV coverage
2,287MW
Across Greater Sydney rooftops
Canopy cover
21.7%
Across the metro urban area
Emissions of CO₂-e
44Mt
Trending down by 8% since 2014
Catchments
3
3 major catchments, 9 river systems
Resources
Explore our full library of tools, guides and reports — carefully curated to support cities, communities and practitioners in advancing sustainable, equitable and climate-ready urban futures.
Click here