Three climate declarations were endorsed by City of Melbourne councillors at last night's Future Melbourne Committee meeting - Better Futures Australia, Edinburgh, and C40 Renewable Energy.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the City of Melbourne has set an objective through the four-year Council Plan to take action to reduce emissions and waste, protect public health, strengthen the economy and create a city that mitigates and adapts to climate change.
"We know climate change is a serious challenge and it's vital we come together to have these important discussions as we look to the future for our city," the Lord Mayor said.
"We were the first capital city council in Australia to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, and we have an ambition for the entire municipality to be zero emissions by 2040."
The Betters Futures Australia Declaration has four goals, including actions to limit average global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels; inspiring Australians to realise zero emissions opportunities; advocating for a national response; and working together, alongside and in partnership with governments to support the delivery of the Paris Agreement.
Better Futures Australia represents a coalition of Australian business and industry leaders, investors, local and state and territory governments, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, healthcare and social institutions, farmers, developers, unions, workers, artists, academic and cultural institutions, and communities.
The Edinburgh Declaration seeks recognition of the critical role of local governments in achieving the vision set out in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. It also notes the need for immediate and increased efforts to mobilise financial resources at all levels of government and the private sector to deliver and mainstream biodiversity actions.
The C40 Renewable Energy Declaration positions cities as champions and leaders for 100 per cent decarbonised energy systems. Its purpose is to raise urban ambition on energy, accelerate renewable energy deployment, and harness the collective power of cities to influence global action on climate change.
Environment portfolio lead, Councillor Rohan Leppert, said the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP) was enormously successful at reducing emissions, with power purchase agreements now being replicated around the country.
"Through our new Power Melbourne project, we're looking at how we can deliver coordinated neighbourhood-scale batteries to deliver sustainable energy back into the grid," Cr Leppert said.
"City of Melbourne initiatives like the MREP and Power Melbourne are helping to create pathways for Australian councils and businesses to be powered by renewables."
Access Economics 2021 found that through climate action, Australia's economy could gain $680 billion and more than 250,000 jobs by 2070.
"Melbourne has been a leader in sustainability for decades and we're looking for ways to continue to encourage greater uptake of renewables, create new opportunities for research, training and jobs - and build our reputation as a centre for clean energy innovation," the Lord Mayor said.
The Council discussion closely follows the recently released IPCC report which estimates the chances of crossing the global warming level of 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next decade. It finds that unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius will be beyond reach.
The IPCC report shows emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are responsible for around 1.1 degree Celsius of warming since the 1850s.
"It is timely for us to have a discussion about climate declarations in light of the IPCC report, and as the world's leaders prepare to connect at COP26 in November," Cr Leppert said.
The City of Melbourne declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019 and remains committed to taking action and partnering across sectors to help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
