LOCAL GOVERNMENTS have taken out top honours for their work on the climate change frontline, at the inaugural Cities Power Partner Summit Awards.
The awards, held on Thursday 18 October in Kiama, New South Wales as part of the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership National Summit, recognised the unsung work of the climate heroes in local governments across the country, who are quietly transforming Australia’s energy landscape.
Alix Pearce, director of the Cities Power Partnership, Australia’s largest local government climate alliance, said that the range of climate solutions coming out of Australia’s councils was staggering.
“The local climate solutions on display at these awards are tangible proof that Australian communities are rising up to meet the challenges of climate change,” she said.
“From supporting local schools to save thousands on their power bills through solar energy to developing Australia’s largest floating solar farm, Cities Power Partnership councils are leading the way with practical local climate solutions.”
“These local heroes are stepping up and getting the job done in the face of continuing Federal climate inaction. It’s time to celebrate these quiet achievers, who are working at the climate frontline and helping their communities to drive down local greenhouse gas pollution”
The Cities Power Partnership Awards celebrated outstanding work from local governments in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and community advocacy, as well as individual climate champion awards.
Full list of award winners
Renewable Energy Achievement Award
Winner: Solar my School – Three Council Program from Randwick, Waverley & Woollahra Councils (New South Wales)
Energy Efficiency Achievement
Winner: Newcastle Museum Energy upgrade – The City of Newcastle (New South Wales)
Sustainable Transport Achievement Award
Winner: Transition to Zero Emissions Vehicles Action Plan 2018-21 – ACT Government
Community Engagement Achievement Award
Winner: Floating solar farm – Lismore City Council (New South Wales)
Knowledge Sharing Award
Winner: South East NSW Councils buddy group (New South Wales)
CPP Ambassador Award
Winner: Clr Ken Keith, Mayor, Parkes Shire Council (New South Wales)
Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, said that Canberra was proud to take home the Sustainable Transport Achievement award.
“Canberra is leading the nation with our progressive targets of 100% renewable energy by 2020, and zero net emissions by 2045. We are on track to reaching these goals. Implementing the ACT’s Transition to Zero Emissions Vehicles Action Plan 2018-21 will play an important part in continuing to meet these reduction targets and help to ensure Canberra remains a sustainable and liveable city.
“This national summit and awards ceremony is to be commended for underlining the action many cities and councils across Australia are taking on climate change. By joining forces and celebrating successes, councils are stepping up to meet the climate challenge in absence of ambitious national action.”
For more information contact the Cities Power Partnership media team on 0487 003 872 or email [email protected]
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The Cities Power Partnership is a free national program created by the Climate Council that celebrates and accelerates the pollution reduction and clean energy successes of Australia in towns and cities.
About the awards
The Cities Power Partnership awards recognise councils demonstrating climate mitigation action across the listed 37 action pledge items under the Cities Power Partnership.
Judges
- Professor Karen Hussey, Climate Councillor and Director, Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland
- Shane Rattenbury MLA, Minister for Climate Change & Sustainability, ACT Government
- Verity Morgan-Schmidt, CEO, Farmers for Climate Action
- Clr Damien Ryan, Mayor Alice Springs, & Vice President, Australian Local Government Association
- Claire Painter, CASE EQ Infrastructure Manager, Mercedes Benz Australia
