Federal and state governments have failed to adequately provide capital city councils with the support needed to transition communities to a green economy, attendees at an event in Sydney have heard.
“We are doing our part, but for too long we have been let down by higher levels of government,” City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. “Councils across Australia look to the federal and state governments for the funding and programs to help them to decarbonise and support their communities to transition to a green economy.”
Hosted by the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors – a national body promoting capital cities as integral parts of the Australian system of government – a discussion panel recently held at Sydney Town Hall highlighted the role councils can play in tackling climate change.
“As roughly 75 per cent of emissions are generated by cities, action at a city level is critical. We continue to lead many other governments with ambitious targets and policies, advocacy, and international partnerships,” said Moore – also CCCLM chair.
Attendees at the event heard that, in 2007, the City of Sydney became the first carbon neutral government in Australia. Since July 2020, all of the City’s operations have been powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity.
The City also made a commitment to reduce its emissions by 70 per cent by 2030. “We did the masterplans, set the targets, and took the action needed to reach that goal by 2021 – nine years early. We have now committed to net zero emissions city-wide by 2035,” Moore said.
Appearing alongside Moore, the Lord Mayor of Hobart Anna Reynolds, and former Mayor of Vancouver and sustainability advocate Gregor Robertson.
Describing climate change as “the world’s biggest challenge”, Reynolds told attendees that more investment is needed to fund local initiatives.
“When it comes to councils, the more funding from the Australian government that goes to our own facilities – whether it’s on projects like solar on libraries or swimming pools – that all helps,” she said. “With more and more residential solar and electric vehicles, federal and state investments aren’t just important responses to climate change – they’re saving energy and fuel bills and helping to tackle the cost of living.”
Reynolds intends to challenge party leaders and candidates to do more in the lead-up to the upcoming federal election. “We have an opportunity in Australia to be leaders in ushering in the next generation of jobs and opportunities as part of our national response.”
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