The Mayor's Column
Recently I attended the annual National General Assembly of the Australian Local Government Association in Darwin, this year titled Climate for Change. It was very interesting to note that representatives of local government from all over our nation were acknowledging the findings of the Stern Report, that global climate change is a reality, that it is a result of human activity, and from the mountains to the sea, from rural and urban communities, all agreed that we must take responsibility and action. We all must urgently adopt strategies to adapt to the climate changes which have already occurred and mitigate to reduce our green house gas emissions in the future.
Local Councils have long been recognized as the tier of government taking the lead on Climate Change, and it is heartening to hear that federally the Kyoto protocol will now be signed to address an increasing environmental and community concern.
Mosman has been shown to have a very big ecological footprint and we can do a lot more individually by supporting council’s environmental policies.
Ten years ago, Mosman Council joined the Cities for Climate Protection Program run by ICLEI Oceania in 1998 to prove its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the organisation and the Mosman community with a variety of projects including:
- Community giveaways of efficient lightbulbs and showerheads & education programs
- Recycling and green waste services
- The introduction of LPG vehicles into Council’s fleet, and the subsequent reduction from 6 cyl to 4 cyl vehicles, and
- Energy efficient office equipment including LCD computer screens
Council is currently a member of the Cities for Climate Protection Plus Program and through this Program has developed a Greenhouse and Sustainable Purchasing Action Plan and a Sustainable Transport Action Plan, Council was awarded by ICLEI Oceania for achieving Milestone 3 of the Sustainable Transport Project, demonstrating Council’s continued commitment.
We can all take simple actions to reduce our GHG emissions at home and at work, including:
- switching off lights and appliances when not in use
- installing energy efficient lightbulbs and showerheads
- switching to greenpower
- installing solar panels and/or a solar hot water service
- leaving the car at home and catching public transport or walking to your destination
Tim Flannery, well known environmentalist and author speaks hopefully of the future, citing other environmental man-made challenges we have faced in recent years, including acid rain and chlorofluorocarbon induced holes in the ozone layer. When each problem was discovered, action was taken and disaster averted.
We must hope, and act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions!!
Cr Denise Wilton, Mayor of Mosman
