Posts filed under ‘Moreland Council’
Submission: Moreland Nature Plan needs to recognise existential threat to biodiversity
Kangaroos in Northern Memorial Park
Moreland Council has had a commitment to developing a biodiversity Strategy since at least 2004, but this strategy has been consistently overlooked. We have a Climate Emergency. But we also have an ecological and biodiversity emergency. Both crises are related and need to be addressed together.
Moreland acknowledged we have a climate emergency. Now we need the proposed Nature Plan, which we have waited 16 years for, to reflect the global science on the existential threats to ecosystems and biodiversity. This is important even in highly built up areas such as Moreland, which still harbours over 900 sepecies, at least 36 of them being threatened species.
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Moreland Council adopts coal filter as part of social sustainability criteria in procurement policy
Moreland Council adopts filter for new coal as part of Procurement Policy
Success tonight on StopAdani. Moreland Council, in its annual review of Council Procurement Policy, passed an amendment to the Council Officer resolution as a part of the social sustainability criteria.
The amendment put forward by Cr Sue Bolton adds:
“Excluding from future contracts, tenders or business dealings any companies involved in developing new coal mines.”
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Moreland plans well on track to meet Net Zero by 2050 climate target
Impact on 2020 greenhouse emissions reduction goal as part of Moreland’s Corporate Carbon Reduction Plan . Source: Moreland Council
A report by Climate Works assessing 57 of the largest municipalities and shires in Australia has highlighted that Moreland is one of three local Governments in Australia fully aligned with emissions reduction of Net Zero by 2050 climate target.
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Moreland Council: Walk the talk on Adani and Council procurement policy
Climate Action Moreland have teamed up with Stop Adani Moreland for a campaign for Moreland City Councillors to revisit the decision of October 2019 on putting in place an amendment to Council procurement policy and companies that sign contracts to build the Adani coal mine in Central Queensland.
Moreland Council passed a general resolution opposing the Adani mine in 2017. Council also declared a climate emergency in 2018. Council need to ensure proper governance and include the implementation of these decisions in Council procurement policy. Please sign the online petition or the paper version being circulated.
Council has made the motherhood statements, they now need to carry through on governance to include action as part Council day to day operations with regard to procurement.
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Moreland Council capital expenditure on climate projects and the Neighbourwoods Program
Solar PV installed on Fawkner Library
Perusing the Governance report in the Council agenda for the October 2019 Council meeting there was an item for capital works climate change expenditure of $990,000 but no detail what this expenditure was actually for.
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Moreland Council fails to take climate emergency seriously on procurement policy Adani amendment
Cr Kavanagh opposing a motion on changing procurement policy on Adani
The Labor and independant Councillors on Moreland Council let down the community on walking the talk on climate action over coal and the Adani Carmichael mine in this time of climate emergency.
There was a notice of motion to amend Council’s Procurement policy to exclude dealings with any company that enters into contractual work with Adani. In her introductory comments Cr Abboud highlighted that she was asked by Australian Conservation Foundation to put a notice of motion to Council for companies contracted to work on the Adani coal mine.
After a debate, the motion was defeated.
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“We all need to become everyday climate warriors”: Award to Climate Action Moreland Convenor
John Englart with Mayor Cr Abboud and Cr Riley with Environmental Sustainability Award
John Englart, Convenor of Climate Action Moreland, received the annual Moreland Award for Environmental Sustainability at the Moreland Awards on 1st October, 2019 for his advocacy in climate action. More than 200 people attended the awards event at the Coburg Town Hall.
Previous to his award, John Englart’s name was mentioned during the evening ceremonies as part of three advisory groups: Sustainable Moreland Advisory Group, Moreland Transport Advisory Committee, Community Advisory Reference Group (on level crossing removal).
John has been a resident of Brunswick, Coburg North and Fawkner for 29 years, publishing on climate science and the need for action since 2004, and active in Climate Action Moreland since 2012. He has attended as an NGO Observer for Climate Action Network Australia the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Annual conferences in Paris in 2015 (COP21), Marrakech in 2016 (COP22), and Bonn in 2017 (COP23).
Here is John’s acceptance speech to the Awards night audience:
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Submission: Zero Carbon Moreland Action Plan 2020-2025
Moreland Zero Carbon action Plan 2020-2025
We welcome the work Council staff have put into the development of a Zero Carbon Moreland Action Plan 2020/21-3024/25, building upon the Moreland Zero Carbon 2040 Framework (Doc). This is a substantial and well thought out Framework plan.
We appreciate that we have already had an opportunity to substantially contribute in the plan preparation through the Brains Trust workshops.
The following points are offered to further improve the plan.
Executive Summary highlighted points:
- Energy Transition: concern over timing of transition of aquatic centres from fossil gas
- Sustainable Transport: Advocacy on Flying Less and aviation emissions
- Sustainable Transport: Support for new Low Carbon mobility solutions
- Sustainable Transport: Support for Hydrogen and low emissions Fuels
- Sustainable Transport: Active Transport differentiation of walking and cycling needs
- Waste and Consumption: Stronger and earlier advocacy on plant based diets
- Waste and Consumption: Urban Community Food Production
- Drawdown: Moreland’s Urban Forest
- Drawdown: Advocacy for retention of high carbon forests in Melbourne hinterland
- Drawdown: Cities for Forests
- Drawdown: Investigate Opportunities for biochar
- Measurement: Public reporting on per capita and total emissions for Moreland
John Englart
Convenor
Climate Action Moreland
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Moreland Council votes to support Global Climate Strike
No Planet B – Climate Emergency
On Wednesday night Councillors at Moreland Council adopted a resolution of supporting the Global Climate Strike on September 20. A further motion extended support to the local Moreland Extinction Rebellion group. Climate Action Moreland started promoting the global climate strike event in Melbourne in May 2019.
Moreland Council was one of the leading Councils in Australia, and globally, to declare a climate emergency (unanimously) in September 2018.
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Screening of ‘2040’ film at Brunswick Town Hall
Moreland Screening of 2040 film
Climate change is a dangerous threat to earth’s people, plants and animals.
WHAT’S YOUR 2040?
Moreland Council has a goal and vision for a zero carbon Moreland by 2040. Everyone needs to get involved to help make this vision a reality!
You’re invited to this special screening of the innovative film 2040 by award winning filmmaker Damon Gameau at the Brunswick Town Hall.
When: Sunday 8 September, 2019. 2pm for 3pm film start
Where: Brunswick Town Hall, Sydney Road.
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