Patrick Condren: Labor’s lord mayoral hopeful ‘not adverse’ to declaring climate emergency

Labor’s lord mayoral hopeful Patrick Condren says he would like Brisbane City Council to declare a climate emergency as he unveiled his team’s plan to commit to a net zero emissions target for Brisbane by 2050.

PATRICK Condren says he would like Brisbane City Council to declare a “climate emergency”, but has stopped short of committing to doing so if he wins the lord mayoralty next month.

It came as Labor’s candidate for The Gabba Ward, Rachel Gallagher – who is squaring off against the Greens’ Jonathan Sri – said she believed the council should declare a climate emergency.

Mr Condren today unveiled Labor’s commitment to set a net zero emissions target by 2050 for Brisbane and pledged to make the city “truly” carbon neutral by reducing reliance on carbon offsets.

Labor’s lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren says he would like Brisbane City Council to declare a climate emergency, but has stopped short of committing to the idea. Picture: Annette Dew

Mr Condren said there was “significant evidence” that the council should declare a climate emergency, but suggested he would have to speak to his caucus before pushing for the idea.

“Personally, I’m not adverse to it in anyway shape or form,” he said.

“That’s not a groundbreaking admission. Plenty of other cities around the world have declared climate emergencies.

“It’s not going to make the sky fall down. It is a logical thing to do. What is wrong with admitting that we are in a climate emergency?”

He said it would set an example and would be an acknowledgment that there was a climate emergency.

Ms Gallagher said she believed the council should declare one, pointing out that other councils had.

“Unfortunately the time to declare that was when everyone else did and unfortunately we have missed the boat there,” she said.

Labor’s candidate for The Gabba Ward Rachel Gallagher.

“But it is a climate emergency which is why we’re announcing this policy today.”

The council says that it became certified as carbon neutral in January 2018, and the LNP administration has committed to spending $24 million over the next four years on carbon reductions.

Under Mr Condren’s plan, $27.5 million would be spent over the next council term to reduce the council’s carbon emissions, including $5 million for greening King George Square and an extra $1.8 million per year for tree planting.

He described his net zero emissions target as a “moon shot”.

Labor says it would investigate “emissions abatement projects” and how to reduce the council’s day to day operation emissions in its first 100 days in administration.

In July, the LNP administration voted down a motion from Cr Sri to declare a climate emergency.

LNP councillor and City Planning Chair Matthew Bourke – who is not running for re-election – said Mr Condren’s plan didn’t go far enough.

LNP councillor and City Planning Chair Matthew Bourke. Picture: Peter Cronin

“The $20 million he’s allocated will go nowhere near making Brisbane a net-zero emissions city by 2050,” Cr Bourke said.

“Brisbane City Council is already the largest carbon-neutral organisation in Australia.

“We’re delivering electric buses and electric Metro, reducing our carbon emissions 8% last financial year, upgrading street-lighting.”

Cr Bourke also rejected the idea of declaring a climate emergency, saying previous debates in council had already made it clear it wasn’t necessary.