Critics question climate emergencies as 12th Sydney council makes declaration
This week Canada Bay became the 12th Sydney council to declare a climate emergency. Those in favour of the action claim it is an easy and necessary way to escalate the issue, but critics say it is nothing more than grandstanding when councils have their own problems to worry about.
Manly
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Canada Bay Council has become the twelfth local authority in the Greater Sydney region to declare a climate emergency.
Councillors voted unanimously on Tuesday night for the declaration which has now been adopted by more than a thousand jurisdictions and local governments around the world.
Across Greater Sydney Blue Mountains City Council, Canterbury Bankstown City Council, Central Coast Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Inner West Council, North Sydney Council, Northern Beaches Council, Randwick City Council, Ryde City Council, Sydney City Council and Woollahra City Council have all declared a climate emergency.
Supporters of the action argue it is an easy way to raise awareness of the issue and put pressure on governments to act.
However, critics say it is an alarmist and meaningless gesture and nothing more than local councillors grandstanding when they should be getting their own house in order.
Greens councillor Charles Jago, who introduced the motion to Canada Bay Council on Tuesday, knocked back criticism.
“It would be alarmist if we were going overboard and if climate change was not a serious issue,” he said.
“Quite honestly we are looking at the survival of civilisation as we stand.”
He said while not enough was being done globally, ultimately the declaration was about a call to arms at a local level.
But fellow Canada Bay councillor, Liberal Michael Megna, criticised the wording of the emergency and said it was dangerous, particularly to young people.
“The more we use that sort of language the more people want to roll up into a foetal position and think the end of the world is coming,” he said.
“If you don’t use that alarmist language you won’t get people drawn into two camps...if you can tone down the language then you might get consensus.”
Others have criticised councils for getting involved in a Federal Government issue when they have local problems to deal with.
After Northern Beaches Council declared a climate emergency, Mayor Michael Regan wrote a letter to local MPs asking them to also push for an emergency in their respective parliaments.
Mackellar MP Jason Falinski responded with a scathing letter of his own in which he told the mayor to stick to local issues.
“It is timely that you have written to me about the Federal Government issue of national climate change policy, because it gives me a chance to write to you about Local Government issues,” he wrote.
“I have been inundated with complaints about the poor condition of local footpaths and insufficient local parking.
“While I understand that you have been busy declaring climate emergencies, lobbying against mines in other states, and against gas exploration, perhaps when you get a chance, we could meet to chat about council taking care of local roads, keeping rates low and making sure rubbish is collected.
“If it would help, I am happy to move a Private Member’s Motion in the House of Representatives to declare a footpath emergency, or parking emergency.”
Councils have also been criticised for not leading by example.
Despite being one of the first council’s to declare a climate emergency, City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore copped criticism earlier this year for flying to Europe for events in London and Paris.
Many other councils have loose policies when it comes to global travel.
While North Sydney Council does not “consider there is a benefit” as a “matter of policy” the door has been left open for overseas travel, following approval at full council.
Canterbury Bankstown states it allows but will “scrutinise” any requests for travel while Blue Mountains City Council also allows overseas travel following approval.
Other councils, including Inner West Council and Canada Bay Council, have banned overseas travel for councillors.