Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been chided for appearing to dismiss the role of inner cities in helping to achieve net-zero emissions.
In a statement issued this week, Cr Anna Reynolds and Cr Nuatali Nelme noted that city local governments have set climate change targets that are more ambitious than the Federal Government’s commitments.
“We as Lord Mayors … are heartened by the Prime Minister’s announcement of the Government’s intention to achieve Net Zero Emissions,” they said.
“However, we are concerned that the Prime Minister appears to be dismissive of the importance of cities and their communities in tackling emission reductions.
“While the Australian Government has had no climate policy, cities have been stepping into the breach [and] most Local Authorities are already working with their communities to reduce emissions.
“We call on the Prime Minister to work with Mayors to design a national cities emission reduction program as this is the key to achieving a zero-carbon target,” they said.
Cr Reynolds and Cr Nelmes are members of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Oceania Steering Committee.