Ratepayers to fork out close to $40K on Paris and London trip for Women4Climate conference

Ratepayers will fork out close to $40,000 on a Paris and London trip to be taken by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and two staff members.

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RATEPAYERS will fork out close to $40,000 on a Paris and London trip to be taken by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and two staff members.

The mayor is heading off to the 2019 Women4Climate conference in Paris where she will speak in front of representatives from 80 global cities.

Accompanying her will be the council’s chief executive officer Monica Barone and another staff member tasked with running “media, communication opportunities and international relations”.

The Lord Mayor and chief executive’s flights and accommodation will be covered by event organisers while the city will fund the third staff member.

“Incidental costs for the Lord Mayor and chief executive officer and all costs for the staff member will be met by the City,” the report said.

“The cost to be met by the City is estimated at an average of $13,000 per person.”

The report said funds are available within existing operational budgets.

The Women4Climate event is an initiative of the C40 large cities climate leadership group — a group of representatives of more than 80 of the world’s largest cities who are committed to collaborative action on climate change.

City of Sydney council CEO Monica Barone. Picture: Craig Wilson

It is also proposed that the Lord Mayor and chief executive officer take the opportunity to visit the City of London to “discuss innovative projects initiated by London relating to affordable housing, clean air and transport”, the report said.

Council documents said that by speaking at the conference, Cr Moore will be able to promote the city’s innovative projects and build on Sydney’s reputation as an international climate change leader.

The City of Sydney has participated in the C40 summits for more than 10 years, attending in New York in 2007, Seoul in 2009, Sao Paulo in 2011, Johannesburg in 2014 and Mexico in 2016.

“The City actively participates in a range of C40 events, and has implemented a number of projects with technical and practical information from C40 — including our LED street lighting rollout, environmental upgrade agreements and Smart Green Apartments Program,” the report said.

A spokesman for Cr Moore said this important international event would “feature city mayors, CEOs and other business leaders from around the world”.

“The Lord Mayor and CEO will travel with one staff member who will support them with media and communication opportunities and international relations.

“The travel was unanimously endorsed by all councillors.”

The spokesman said the final itinerary and costs are still being finalised.

“The costs will include some airfares, accommodation, transfers, and other incidentals,” she said.

“The Lord Mayor will provide a report to council after the travel.”

City of Sydney Council is also considering hosting the next Women4Climate conference.