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.
“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
NEWS 
