Merri-bek council debating whether to send hundreds of thousands of dollars to green projects overseas

Merri-bek council will debate whether to send ratepayers’ money overseas for energy efficient stoves in Guatemala, solar lighting in Zambia, biodiverse forests in Panama and to reduce emissions in Romania.

A national park in Panama. Merri-bek City Council will debate whether to send money to help with the country’s biodiversity through forests.

Merri-bek City Council will on Wednesday night debate whether to send hundreds of thousands of ratepayers’ dollars overseas through a carbon offset program in a bid to boost the organisation’s environmental credentials.

Councillors will debate the council’s new carbon offsets policy that would take be in effect until 2029-2030 and it recommends maintaining the current level of spending around $70,000 per year on carbon offsets.

However, the recommendation from council staff is to spend most of that money on “gold standard” carbon offsets for projects that reduce carbon emissions in the developing world to balance carbon that is emitted in Melbourne’s inner-north.

A mantled howler monkey in Panama.

Some of the projects under the gold standard carbon offsets banner include providing fuel efficient cooking stoves in Guatemala, delivering solar lighting for homes in Zambia, reducing emissions from a plastic recycling company in Romania and planting biodiverse forests in Panama.

The council report notes that if only Australian Carbon Credit Units – which ensures projects are local to Australia – were purchased instead of the overseas offsets the price of the policy would skyrocket to around $165,000 per year.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston said Merri-bek council should focus on spending ratepayers’ money locally on key projects and core services.

“International carbon offset schemes have been proven time and time again to be a scam,” he said.

“It is irresponsible to be spending any ratepayer money on overseas carbon offsets.

“Ratepayers want councils to focus on core services and infrastructure projects – Merri-bek council already has enough to worry about without focusing on this sham.”

Mr Hurlston said that if a council believed it was necessary to purchase carbon offsets they should only be allowed to purchase Australian-based programs.

“It would only every be appropriate to purchase a local Australian offset scheme where there is a proven benefit that can be readily verified,” he said.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Merri-bek Mayor Helen Davidson. Picture: Supplied

“Otherwise, it is simply a box ticking exercise.”

The ratepayer-funded purchase of carbon offsets are used to ensure that Merri-bek council is certified as carbon neutral.

“Certification allows (Merri-bek) Council to be publicly recognised for its achievements, helping the community recognise that Council is carbon neutral, and that this has been achieved in a credible and transparent way,” a council report on the policy stated.

A Merri-bek council spokesperson said the organisation “has a previously committed budget of $70,000 each year to purchase carbon offsets to overall reduce carbon emissions and to reduce the impact of climate change”.

Giraffes in Zambia.

“This is part of a Council commitment set many years ago to remain certified as carbon neutral, as part of Council’s climate action plan,” the spokesperson said.

“Council also takes other action to reduce our corporate carbon emissions, for example purchasing renewable electricity, purchasing electric vehicles, replacing gas heaters with split systems, and energy efficiency works.”

Merri-bek council was certified as carbon neutral in 2012 – when it was called Moreland council.

Originally published as Merri-bek council debating whether to send hundreds of thousands of dollars to green projects overseas