Council Elections in October 2020 – Boroondara Votes Climate
Donate to our 2020 Council Election Campaign
Councils can make a difference
All levels of government have a responsibility to respond to the climate emergency. More than 1,750 governments have declared a climate emergency worldwide, including 32 Councils in Victoria. Many of these Councils have developed plans for strong climate action, including reducing net emissions from their own operations to zero and introducing incentives to reduce municipality-wide emissions (e.g. through increasing the uptake of solar panels and electric vehicles).
Boroondara Council fails the climate test
In May this year the Boroondara Council decisively rejected a motion to declare a climate emergency. The Council’s 2020-21 Budget reflects this failure to recognise the seriousness of the climate challenge. Only $985,000 has been committed to develop a Climate Action Plan and to continue implementation of limited actions, including retrofits of LED lighting, replacement of inefficient heating/cooling systems and additional PV solar power generation.
Tell Council we want strong climate action
Despite their lack of ambition on climate action to date, the Council should be given credit for committing to develop a new Climate Action Plan. Consultation on the plan will commence mid-August 2020. We need to send a strong message through the consultation process that Boroondara residents want strong climate action from their Council.
Tell Council we want transformational climate action!
Register now to be part of the consultation!
Click here to join the consultation.
What are other Councils doing?
Councils including the City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip and the City of Stonington have developed strong action plans. You can find details of what other Councils are doing here.
Lighter Footprints is holding a Zoom forum on climate action by Councils on 26 August 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Councillors from other municipalities will talk about their experience in successfully implementing meaningful climate action by local government. Click here to register.
Help elect a Council which will act on the climate
Only three of the existing ten Councillors voted to declare a climate emergency in May this year – Crs Jane Addis (Maling Ward), Coral Ross (Gardiner Ward) and Lisa Hollingworth (Linden Ward).
Council elections will be held in October 2020. This is our chance to elect more Councillors who recognise the need for climate action and will drive the Council to take a leading role in reducing greenhouse emissions in Boroondara.
Please join the campaign to elect climate candidates
We are mounting a campaign to encourage voters to make climate change a priority issue. This will include producing a climate candidate scorecard and holding a candidate forum. We need help with ideas, writing, phone calls, social media and (coronavirus restrictions allowing) letter boxing, street stalls, door knocking and organising candidate forums.
If you are interested in helping with all or any of these activities, or if you can think of others, please sign up below! Any amount of time, however small, will be a help and greatly appreciated!
Please donate to support our work
We are all volunteers kicking in our own money to make this campaign happen. If you too can support us by making a donation to cover printing, placards, social media advertising, tee-shirts and other campaign necessities please donate via our Chuffed donation page. Click here to donate!
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