Bayside Council set to declare climate emergency
Bayside Council is set to splash $80,000 of ratepayers’ money to join the war against rising sea levels and mass species extinction, with a report stating there was “just 12 years left” to avoid a climate change catastrophe.
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Another Melbourne council is set to declare a climate emergency and splash $80,000 to create a plan to tackle extreme weather events.
Bayside Council is likely to join councils including Melbourne, Darebin, Moreland and Port Phillip, in approving the measure.
It comes after more than 2260 signed a petition calling on the council to take action against climate change.
A report to go before a Bayside council meeting tonight states climate change was “already causing serious loss of life and destroying vital ecosystems”.
“Councils that have declared a ‘climate emergency’ recognise that climate change is causing significant damage to our economy, society and environment, and that urgent action is required to reverse current trends and secure our planet for future generations,” the report says.
The officer’s report cites a study from the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which states “we could have just 12 years left to limit a climate change catastrophe”.
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Bayside Council is a member of South East Council Climate Change Alliance and signatory to the State Government’s TAKE2 pledge program, working towards zero net emissions by 2050.
The report recommends councillors vote to declare a climate emergency and develops a Climate Emergency Action Plan by October next year.
Ratepayers will spend $80,000 on the plan, which will identify further actions the council should take, including how much extra cash will be needed to deliver “Climate Emergency programs”.