Lord Mayor’s Dubai trip would be jointly funded by the council and Bloomberg Philanthropies

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s decision to fly to Dubai for a UN climate change conference has been described as “madness”.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s trip has been billed as ‘promoting City of Melbourne’s ambitious climate mitigation and adaptation targets’. Picture: Getty

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp is set to jet off on another overseas trip to Dubai – to promote the City of Melbourne’s work in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change – in a move that has been slammed as hypocritical.

If approved by the council at their meeting on Tuesday, Ms Capp will “participate and present” at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference between 30 November to 6 December.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston said it was hypocritical to fly the Lord Mayor on a long-haul international flight to participate in a conference about climate change.

“This garbage needs to stop,” he said.

“Climate action strategies say less overseas travel due to emissions here is Sally jetsetting again.

“This madness must end.”

The proposed trip would be jointly funded by the council and Bloomberg Philanthropies – but would still cost ratepayers an estimated $3450.

The council report into the prosed trip states the benefits to ratepayers would include “promoting City of Melbourne’s ambitious climate mitigation and adaptation targets and initiatives including for example Power Melbourne, Retrofit Melbourne and creating a Heat Safe City”.

Other benefits included “showcasing Melbourne’s leadership in climate, in particular, presenting at the Local Climate Action Summit” and meeting with companies and philanthropic founders to access funding.

Flightfree.org estimates that a round trip plane trip between Melbourne and Dubai for one passenger will emit about 4.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

It is understood the City of Melbourne allows the Lord Mayor and councillors to fly business on long-haul international flights.

The Lord Mayor’s office has been contracted to confirm which class she will be flying to Dubai.

Ms Capp has already spent at least $11,734.52 of ratepayers’ money on travel between November 2020 and March 2023 – including a trip to Singapore.