Tasmania’s Derwent Valley Council has declared a Climate Emergency and committed to
preparing a Climate Emergency Plan over the next 12 months – joining four other Tasmanian councils in making the declaration.
The recent motion saw Councillors speak to the impact that climate change is having on the Derwent Valley and actions that can be taken to tackle the crisis.
In supporting the motion, Council committed to preparing a Climate Emergency Plan over the next 12 months that will detail its response to the climate emergency.
The Climate Emergency Plan will develop a comprehensive list of actions, and address the resources required to implement these recommendations, including their budgetary considerations.
Council has resolved to urgently act on the climate emergency within our capacity to do so by committing to:
• Write to all State and Federal parliamentarians expressing Council’s position on the climate emergency and urging immediate further action including resources for Local Government to appropriately respond to the emergency;
• Conducting a greenhouse gas audit on Council operations including sources of emissions and costs to maintain assets actions to mitigate emissions and provide cost savings;
• Engage with our community, staff, climate experts, and other stakeholders to develop a climate emergency action plan in line with the review of Councils Strategic Plan;
• Develop a climate emergency page on the Council website to provide our community with clear information about what council is doing in its response to the emergency, and the most effective ways community members can join us in taking climate emergency action.
Mayor, Michelle Dracoulis says Council is committed to tackling the growing Climate Emergency.
“In declaring a climate emergency, Council recognises the significant risk that climate change poses to our community and environment. We join 112 other councils across Australia that have declared a climate emergency and are taking proactive steps to implement a climate emergency response across their operations.”
In Tasmania, Hobart City Council, Launceston City Council, Kingborough Council, and Northern Midlands Council have also passed climate emergency declarations.
