15 August 2019
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council last night officially declared a climate emergency.
The decision was met with resounding support from the public gallery, which was packed to the brim with community members.
A climate emergency is a call for immediate and urgent action to reverse global warming.
The decision was unanimous with all Councillors delivering passionate and personal support for the need to address climate change today.
Council joins 840 local governments across 18 countries that have made the declaration, which recognises the significant damage climate change is causing to our economy, society and environment and that urgent action is required to reverse current trends.
The motion also called for the Australian State and Federal Governments to follow suit and declare a climate emergency supported with legislated programs.
The Shire will now develop a community supported Action Plan outlining clear targets, outcomes, estimated budgets and timeframes for the Peninsula.
Shire Mayor David Gill said Council was calling on the nation to join the fight for our planet.
"We'll do everything we can to address and mitigate climate change at a local level but it's going to take action from the State and Federal Government to make a real difference.
"This is a time to put political preferences aside and unite for the sake of our environment and the future of our next generation", concluded Cr Gill.
The Shire is a signatory to the global Covenant of Mayors, the world's largest coalition of city leaders addressing climate change by pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, track progress and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
Nepean Ward Cr Hugh Fraser who raised a notice of motion at the 13 August Council meeting, said as a coastal Council, the Peninsula is subject to higher risk of extreme storm events, sea level rise and coastal erosion as a result of climate change.
"I am very pleased to support this timely motion moved by Cr Hearn – our youngest councillor. As French President Francois Hollande remarked at the height of the 2015 Paris COP21 World Environment Conference - It is for the youth that we are holding COP21".
"This Climate Change Emergency resolution will give fresh momentum to Council's resolved commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2021.
"Together with local government here and internationally, it will carry that commitment by example and education to the wider community and nation states", concluded Cr Fraser.
In 2015 CSIRO predicted the following climate impacts for the Greater Melbourne region:
- Increased temperatures
- More frequent and intense downpours
- Rising sea level
- Warmer and more acidic seas
- More hot days and warm spells
- Less rainfall in winter and spring
- Harsher fire weather and longer fire seasons and increased frequency and height of extreme sea levels (source: greater Melbourne climate change predictions 2015).
Briars Ward Cr Sam Hearn who moved the motion and said "it's time to stop thinking about climate change and start taking urgent, significant action.
"The crux of all this is that we cannot continue to take more, have more, consume more, discard more.
"Council has a long and proud history of approaching climate and environment issues based on the very real impacts they are having and will have on our local people and places.
"We've been proactive in introducing several Policies, Strategies and Action Plans already in place to directly address climate change mitigation and adaptation and we're backing these up with stronger steps forward", concluded Cr Hearn.
Council's current climate change focused Policies, Strategies and Action Plans include:
- Carbon Neutral Policy – Reduction in emissions through Solar PV installation, LED streetlights and energy efficient buildings towards achieving Carbon Neutral accreditation in Council operations by 2021
- Climate Change Community Engagement Strategy – Developing resources and actions to engage community to reduce emissions and build resilience
- Embedding ESD principles – Preparing an ESD Policy to be introduced into the Planning Scheme and preparing an internal ESD Policy for Council buildings and civil works.
View these and other Council policies online at: mornpen.vic.gov.au/policies
