Community asked to help prioritise urgent action to respond to the climate emergency
Kingston Council wants to work with the community to help prioritise the urgent actions needed to respond to the climate and ecological emergency.
In January last year, Council joined other cities across Australia and around the world in declaring a Climate and Ecological Emergency, recognising that urgent action was required to reduce emissions.
Council recognises that the magnitude of change required in a short amount of time is huge. So, we've put together a draft response plan that draws on the science to tell us what action will make the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time. We now need the community to tell us what they think.
Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said the draft response plan is just the first step, Council needs the community to get involved and tell us what their priorities are for urgent, scalable and meaningful action.
"We want our community to let us know if they agree with our priorities for urgent action or have other ideas about how we can respond to this climate crisis, because it affects all of us," said Cr Staikos.
"We also want to hear how you want be involved in achieving our community emissions reduction target of Net Zero by 2030. Reaching this target requires a whole of community response so it's important we all work together."
Council has committed to three main goals and a range of targets including net zero corporate emissions by 2025 and net zero community emissions by 2030. Council will also investigate opportunities to support carbon 'sinks' that reduce emissions by absorbing carbon.
"Limiting global warming to well below 2°C is going to be incredibly tough," said Cr Staikos. "Council recognises the level of investment required to reduce emission is substantial and that strong leadership is required."
Last year Kingston signed a power purchase agreement that will see all the city's street lighting and Council's large buildings powered by green energy by 1 July 2021. In addition, it is anticipated that all remaining Council sites will also be powered by green energy under another separate contract from July this year, ensuring that 100% of Council's electricity needs will be provided by renewables.
"Sourcing Kingston's energy requirements from renewable electricity is an important response to our Climate and Ecological Emergency declaration - but it's not enough," Cr Staikos said.
"Transformational change is needed to reduce emissions at the scope and scale required to bring about meaningful change."
While the difference Council can make is significant, contributions from business, industry and residents will be essential.
Council will continue to support the community in their efforts to reduce emissions, we will encourage behaviour change and we'll work with them to ensure that the support we provide is truly effective.
