Cardinia Shire Council resolved at its Council meeting this week to declare a climate emergency, joining more than 800 other local governments across the globe to have made the declaration.
This is also in line with the Municipal Association of Victoria State Council and the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly.
In line with the Municipal Association of Victoria State Council and the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly, Cardinia Shire Council resolved last night to declare a climate emergency, joining more than 800 other local governments across the globe to have made the declaration.
A climate emergency is a call for immediate and urgent action to reverse global warming and address climate change.
Cardinia Shire Council has already taken a number of measures to play its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the changing climate, including adopting a zero carbon operational target with a planned 36% reduction in community emissions, and the introduction of a number of policies including:
- Sustainability Environment Policy
- Aspirational Energy Transition Plan
- Integrated Water Management Plan
- Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
- In addition, the Shire is one of five founding members of the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) working collaboratively to deliver climate change projects to drive a regional zero emissions economy and build community resilience.
Council is a signatory to the state government TAKE2 pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and has influenced other organisations such as Casey Cardinia Libraries to also join the pledge. This program is aligned to the Victorian Government’s zero net emissions by 2050 commitment and is a program for action to help achieve the emissions reduction target.
In line with its declaration, Council will strengthen its current commitments by:
- giving priority to policy and actions that provide for both climate change mitigation and adaptation
- ensuring climate change adaptation and mitigation actions are emphasised as key priorities in the 2021-2025 council plan
- investigating the financial viability of divestment within council financing, with the aim to move away from financial institutions, which fund the fossil fuel industry
- funding a climate change action plan in the 2020-2021 budget cycle, with a focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation, and
- investigating the cost effectiveness of purchasing ‘green energy’.
Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Graeme Moore said climate change does not stop at local boundaries.
“It is important that we all play our part in protecting our environment, and Cardinia Shire Council is proud to make this commitment towards supporting a better future for our community,” he said.
