As former CEO of Nillumbik Shire Council in Victoria and newly appointed CEO/Regional Director of ICLEI – Oceania, Bill Forrest has called on Local Government Australia wide to step up to the challenges of climate change.
Bill brings to ICLEI – Oceania 25 year’s experience in Local Government.
He said that the impasse at international and national levels to achieve policy settings that will drive carbon emission reductions means that councils working with their communities is critical to addressing the causes and impacts of climate change.
“Now is the time for action and where better to do it than at the local level under the auspice and support of local councils,” Bill Forrest said.
“The track record of ICLEI – Oceania’s work with councils across Australia and New Zealand over the past decade has been recognised internationally, providing evidence that a relatively small investment by State and Federal Governments brings substantial rewards in emissions reductions, savings and investment.”
ICLEI – Oceania, the regional office of the international, not for profit organisation ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, has worked with hundreds of councils in Australia and New Zealand since 1997 to bring about sustainability improvements through local action.
Councils participating in ICLEI – Oceania’s Cities for Climate Protection Australia program reported cumulative savings of 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions between 1998 and 2009, as well as savings of approximately $95 million through reduced energy costs.
“The first stop for effective climate change action should be Local Government,” Bill Forrest said.
“Councils representing over 80 per cent of Australia’s population have voted with their budgets in recognition of the cost benefit of taking action now.”
Under Bill Forrest’s leadership, Nillumbik Shire Council became a leader in the areas of waste minimisation and diversion from landfill, streetlighting, Water Smart Urban Design, watersmart playing fields, environmental education and biodiversity.
Bill also led the council and community through the difficult period following the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. He said that the nature of the bushfires that struck Victoria were symptomatic of the changing climate.
“We in Local Government, as custodians of local communities, are the first to feel the worsening impacts of climate change,” Bill Forrest said. “We are fooling ourselves if we think we can put climate change on hold.
“We need to be proactive and not just pick up the pieces after climatic events. We also need to build our resilience through planning and building for a sustainable future.
“Local Government has a very important role to play when it comes to sustainability and action on climate change.
“ICLEI – Oceania has an equally important role in supporting Local Governments to respond to ever increasing challenges, both in service delivery and building community resilience.
“We can make a real difference – locally, nationally and internationally.”
