In August our neighbouring municipality of Darebin unanimously adopted a Climate Emergency Plan, after a period of community consultation.

Darebin Council meeting on 21 August 2017 unanimously adopted the following resolution (See Council minutes (PDF)):

Council Resolution
MOVED: Cr. T McCarthy SECONDED: Cr. S Amir
That Council:
(1) Adopts the Darebin Climate Emergency Plan (the Plan) attached as Appendix B to
this report subject to the following amendments:
a) In section 7 on page 78 after the first sentence the following sentence is
inserted: “Given the need for emergency speed action, the Plan will be
updated when necessary within this period.”; and
b) Noting the electronic submission received from climate expert Philip Sutton
that identifies a number of minor edits, officers are authorised to make minor
edits to the final Plan.
(2) Calls upon the State and Federal Governments to declare a climate emergency and
for both governments to back this up with legislated programs to drive the
emergency speed creation of a safe climate economy.
(3) Signs up to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.
(4) Signs up to TAKE2 Victoria’s collective climate change pledge
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Nine Key Directions
According to the executive summary, the plan outlines nine key directions to reach core goals:

1. Climate Emergency mobilisation and leadership
2. Energy efficiency
3. Renewable energy and fuel switching
4. Zero emissions transport
5. Consumption and waste minimisation
6. Fossil fuel divestment
7. Adaptation and resilience
8. Engaging the community
9. Darebin Energy Foundation

Highlights of the draft plan include:

• the development of a flagship Climate Emergency campaign and program, including a Climate Emergency conference
• the creation of the Darebin Energy Foundation to accelerate sustained and meaningful action with the community (residents, businesses, schools and other organisations) to eliminate Darebin’s greenhouse gas emissions, embed community resilience to climate change, and contribute in other ways to the global effort on climate change
• doubling the amount of solar PV in Darebin from 19,000kW to 38,000kw through an expanded Solar $aver program and school, business and community energy programs. These ambitious programs will involve an initial investment of $20 million by Council, the majority of which will be paid back through special rates schemes
• supporting households and businesses to be more energy efficient and more resilient to heatwaves and energy cost increases, including measures to minimise the urban heat island effect
• a continued emphasis on supporting our most vulnerable communities
• enhanced engagement and communication with our community including targeted and tailored approaches with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
• Council leadership, with a review of all Council programs and policies to ensure alignment with Council’s Climate Emergency commitment, including improvements to buildings, renewable energy and fleet.

The full plan can be downloaded from the Darebin Have Your Say website