Code Red for Humanity
Wednesday 3 November 2021
Inner West Council will lobby the Australian Government to commit to a 2030 target for at least 75% reduction in emissions.
The resolution, from last night’s Council Meeting, was made in the wake of the United Nations issuing a code red for humanity, with António Guterres, the UN secretary general, saying “…greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk.”
Inner West Mayor Rochelle Porteous said while Inner West had excellent green credentials, it had to be the Australian Government who took the lead on Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions targets.
“Australia’s targets are too modest. If other countries were to adopt our emissions targets, global temperatures would increase by at least two degrees, and possibly by as much as three degrees.
“This would be disastrous for the world’s climate,” Mayor Porteous said.
Council resolved to:
- Write to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Energy and Emission Reductions asking the Government commit to a 2030 target for at least a 75% reduction in emissions
- Call on local Federal Members for Grayndler, Barton, Reid and Sydney to take the Community Protection Pledge
- Note the “NSW Audit Report: Managing climate risks to assets and services” and call on the Premier, the Treasurer and Minister of Planning to urgently adopt the recommendations
Council will also build overall and interim net zero targets into Council’s planning documents, such as the Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program and Short and Long Term Financial Plans.
Last week Council also heard how the Zero Waste Strategy is embedded into its operational budget, and how Council is meeting its short and long term targets under the Zero Waste Strategy.
Inner West Council is already one of the greenest in New South Wales. Council’s initiatives include:
- Becoming the first council in New South Wales to be 100 per cent divested from fossil fuels
- Aggressively pursuing solar throughout Inner West with innovative enterprises such partnerships with the Moree Solar Farm, Haystacks Solar Garden, Solar my School and Pingala Community Energy
- Moving to energy-efficient streetlights – Council and Ausgrid have swapped out almost 50% of the Inner West’s older streetlights for LEDs, which are cheaper, longer-lasting and low-carbon
For media enquiries, contact Shane Teehan, Media and communications, 9392 5117 or Shane.Teehan@innerwest.nsw.gov.au