Local councils are currently outstripping the Federal Government when it comes to practical policies to combat climate change.
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With an energy policy stalemate at the heart of our national government, people must take power into their own hands.
Communities must support their councils to be bold, imaginative and forward-thinking in building sustainable shires, towns and cities - and provide vocal support when councils try new initiatives.
Thankfully, there are signs that some councils are doing just that. Take Strathbogie council. In this rural Victorian shire many residents face energy poverty as a result of soaring power prices, leaving them unable to effectively heat or cool their homes.
In response, Strathbogie Council has partnered with the Yarra Energy Foundation to launch the Bogie Bulk Buy, which connects homes and businesses with affordable rooftop solar systems.
It’s been so successful that four other Victorian councils are introducing bulk buy programs to bring clean, cheap and reliable solar power to the people.
And the Cities Power Partnership - the country’s largest local government climate alliance - is helping replicate more clean energy projects like this.
Strathbogie is one of over 100 councils joining the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership, a national alliance of local governments representing almost 11 million Australians tackling climate change together.
Next week, 30 more councils will join the alliance, making it Australia’s largest council climate network.
From Queensland’s Douglas Shire to Huon Valley in Tasmania, councils have committed to over 300 projects to cut greenhouse gas pollution.
Councils and communities across the country are now working to protect their area from climate impacts such as rising temperatures, coastal flooding and longer, earlier bushfire seasons.
Some are even setting ambitious emissions reduction and renewable energy targets - showing a commitment to reducing their own climate impact.
If these local councils, many of them regional, rural and under-resourced, can develop an effective climate response, why aren’t we seeing meaningful climate action at Federal level? A cohesive national response to climate change at all levels of government is needed.
And if our nation’s leaders won’t step up to the challenge, it’s up to local heroes to lead the charge.
Alix Pearce is the director of the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership
