Georges River Council has joined a Climate Council initiative pledging to pursue actions to accelerate pollution reduction and source clean energy projects.
The council is joining the Cities Power Partnership, a free national program created by the Climate Council and will follow five key actions pursuing renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and working together with other councils.
The aim of the partnership is to accelerate pollution reduction and clean energy successes of Australia in towns and cities.
The Climate Council was founded in 2013 as an independent and 100 per cent community-funded organisation following the abolition of the Australian Climate Commission.
It includes scientists, health and renewable energy experts and aims to provide an independent voice on climate change.
Georges River Council is one of 100 local councils across Australia who have joined the Cities Power Partnership.
Georges River Council Mayor Kevin Greene said that joining the Cities Power Partnership was an important step forward to finding local climate solutions.
“Council has taken the pledge to tackle climate change in our own backyard as part of the Cities Power Partnership,” he said.
Climate Councillor and internationally renowned climate expert Professor Tim Flannery welcomed Georges River Council to the partnership and commended the council for taking positive action on climate change.
“There are some great clean energy and transport projects coming out of Australia’s local governments and I’m looking forward to seeing what Georges River Council will bring to the Cities Power Partnership,” he said.
Local governments who join the partnership pledge to take five key actions across renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and working together.
As part of the Cities Power Partnership, Georges River Council has pledged the following five actions to tackle climate change locally:
- Provide Council resources to educate and support the uptake of renewable energy through Our Energy Future partnership.
- Power Council operations by renewables, either directly (with solar PV or wind) or by purchasing Greenpower (from electricity retailers).
- Ensure Council fleet purchases meet strict greenhouse gas emissions requirements and support the uptake of electric vehicles.
- Install renewable energy on Council buildings, for example, childcare facilities, libraries, street lighting, recreation centres, sporting grounds and Council offices.
- Create a green energy fund to finance energy efficiency projects and receive savings.
