PRESS RELEASE
Seven million Australians are now represented by local governments committed to action on climate change, as three capital cities join a major new council climate partnership.
Sydney, Brisbane and Darwin councils join 55 Australian local governments who have signed up to the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership, a network of councils driving uptake of clean energy around the country.
Cities Power Partnership councils now represents over seven million Australians in all states and territories – almost 30% of the population.
Alix Pearce, Cities Power Partnership Director, said: “With almost 30% of the population now represented by local governments that are committed to renewable energy and emissions reduction, council action on climate is becoming a force to be reckoned with in Australia.”
“We have local governments ranging from our very largest metropolitan councils, such as City of Sydney and Brisbane, through to tiny rural shires joining the Cities Power Partnership. The local government race to renewables is well and truly on.”
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said: “We have a long-term commitment to tackling climate change, and we’re accelerating our environmental actions because we know the next few years are crucial in determining whether global efforts can limit temperature rises to two degrees by 2070.”
“It’s only through working with businesses, residents and other levels of government that we can make the scale of change so urgently required – so I’m proud to join many other local governments around the nation in the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership.”
The local governments represented in the Partnership run an impressive array of renewable energy projects supporting diverse communities. Projects range from a solar bulk buy in the tiny Victorian rural shire Strathbogie, helping to lift residents out of energy poverty, through to the City of Sydney’s $10 million investment in renewables.
With recent research showing that cities could generate up to 70% of the emissions reductions needed to limit the impact of extreme climate change, the work that urban local governments are taking on climate is taking on increasing global importance.
Professor Tim Flannery, chief councillor at the Climate Council said: “Time and time again we’ve seen serious action from local government around the country to slash emissions and ramp up renewables.”
“Local councils are leading the way, with impressive projects across renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable transport that are keeping money in the community and reducing pollution.
