Speaking at Local Government Managers Australia’s recent International Leading Practices Symposium at the Gold Coast, the City of Melbourne’s Director Sustainability and Regulatory Services, Geoff Lawlor, said that when we get to the point that the environment is viewed just as importantly as GDP, things will become a lot easier.
In its sustainability quest, Melbourne City Council has set itself a target of zero emissions by 2020. The organisation aims to reach a 50 per cent reduction by 2010 and then zero by 2020. In 2008 it has achieved a 41 per cent reduction so is well on track to meet its targets. A major plank in reducing its emissions has been changing the way its buildings are created and refurbished, plus Council’s use of green power.
Its six star building, Council House 2, opened in 2006 is world best practice, providing a superior work environment for staff resulting in increased productivity, and creating a role model for other businesses and organisations to follow.
Around the world more and more people clearly view climate change as the major threat to the planet and our way of life. But with Australia’s likely move to a low carbon economy through the introduction of a carbon tax to cut emissions coming at a time when fuel prices and other essential commodities are spiralling upwards by the day is starting to send jitters throughout the community and businesses.
This will surely test the resolve of all spheres of government as they grapple with the political reality of damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
The recently released 600 page draft report on climate change, prepared for the Rudd Government by Professor Ross Garnaut, calls for early and strong action leading that would see an emissions trading scheme in place in Australia by 2010.
Describing climate change as a ‘diabolical’ policy problem, Professor Garnaut sees this is the hardest policy problem in living memory.
“The most inappropriate response would be to delude ourselves, taking small actions that create an appearance of action, but which do not solve the problem,” he said. “Such an approach would risk the integrity of our market economy and political processes to no good effect.”
Councils are already playing, and will continue to play, a key role in working with their local communities and local businesses as we surely must adapt to this brave new world of carbon trading and carbon offsets.
