Cities Are Part Of The Climate Change Solution

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7th December 2009, 06:16pm - Views: 664






People Feature Coyuncil Of Capital City Lord Mayors 2 image



Media Release

7 December 2009


LEADERS IN COPENHAGEN TOLD TO WORK WITH CITIES TO FIGHT CLIMATE

CHANGE


Cities are crucial to combating climate change and need to be engaged by national leaders

to achieve targets set in Copenhagen, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore MP said

today.


“Cities make up two per cent of the earth’s surface but they now account for 80 per cent of

emissions. If measures like those developed in Sustainable Sydney 2030 were implemented

in all of Australia’s major cities, we would achieve 40 percent of the current national

emissions reduction target,” commented Ms Moore, the Chair of the Council of Capital City

Lord Mayors (CCCLM).


“Governments must set bold greenhouse gas reduction targets in the lead-up to

Copenhagen or face the costs of dangerous climate change.


”Cities have the opportunity and responsibility to urgently and significantly reduce

greenhouse gas emissions. 

 

“It is why Australia’s capital cities have committed to work together to slash emissions with

studies showing collective reductions of 57 million tonnes a year by 2020 can be achieved

(or 40 percent of the current national emissions reduction target).


“The Conference is therefore an important opportunity to highlight the central role cities play

in reducing global emissions, and to demonstrate what practical steps can be taken now to

ensure a future for the planet.”


Ms Moore, who will represent the CCCLM at an International Mayors Summit on Climate

Change in Copenhagen from 14-18 December, said Sydney was well advanced in taking

action to reduce emissions.


Major initiatives include:



Development of a decentralised energy plan aimed at producing enough electricity to

supply 70 per cent of the power needs of Sydney CBD and inner City Villages without

coal fired power stations.



Expenditure of $76 million over the next four years to build a 200km cycleway

network - encouraging people to get out of their cars and ride, use public transport or

walk.



Retrofitting of Buildings - saving an estimated 745 tonnes of CO2 emissions and over

$70,000 in energy costs each year as part of the

nation-wide

CitySwitch Green

Office program. 


People Feature Coyuncil Of Capital City Lord Mayors 3 image

“In September, the Danish Government sponsored an international community consultation

on global warming which revealed that 98

per cent of Australians were concerned about

climate change, and three-quarters were very concerned,” Ms Moore said.


“94 per cent said they want a binding deal to come out of Copenhagen and support stronger

emission reduction targets. Indeed, three-quarters said they would pay higher prices if it

would decrease emissions.


“On behalf of Sydney and Australia, I have been asked to present these results in

Copenhagen on December 16.” 


Media contact: Graham Cassidy, Cato Counsel, 0419 202317, or Deborah Wilkinson,

CCCLM, 62 85 1672


The CCCLM comprises:

o

Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Michael Harbison

o

Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Cr Campbell Newman

o

Mr Jon Stanhope, MLA, ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and

Municipal Services

o

Rt Hon Graeme Sawyer, Lord Mayor of Darwin

o

Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Rob Valentine

o

Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle

o

Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi

o

Rt Hon Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor of Sydney

SNAPSHOT OF THE INPUTS OF CAPITAL CITIES

o

64 per cent of the total population

o

63 per cent of small, medium and large businesses

o

78 per cent of economic growth (2001-06)

o

70 per cent of Gross Domestic Product

o

66 per cent of total jobs

o

70 per cent of total international visits (6 million plus visitors a year)

o

$1trillion in managed funds (the fourth largest in the world)

o

$3 billion a year investment by capital city councils

o

Administration by capital city councils of more than 25 billion in assets






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