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.”
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