People power converges on Canberra to tackle climate change

Eurobodalla Shire Council will pledge to become a ‘climate champion’ under a landmark new national initiative to be launched in Canberra today.  

The Cities Power Partnership is an initiative of Climate Council Australia and aims to transform Australia’s energy future.

Eurobodalla will join more than thirty councils from across the country as a ‘power partner’, representing more than 300 towns and cities and almost two million Australians ready to tackle climate change at a local level.

Clr James Thomson will represent Eurobodalla Shire Council at the launch at Mount Majura solar farm.

“The Cities Power Partnership offers Australian councils realistic and effective ways to encourage clean energy technology, energy efficiency and sustainable transport at a local level.  

“We’re already a leader in this field,” said Clr Thomson. “Eurobodalla Council’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions are saving ratepayers more than $1 million annually through our energy efficiency and demand management programs.

“For instance, each year we’re saving $200,000 a year in electricity costs at our water pumping stations simply by altering our operation times. These are the kinds of methodologies we want to share with other CPP councils and we hope to learn about similar successful actions from our partner councils.”

“We think the Cities Power Partnership has the potential to lift us all.”

Members of the partnership will be given access to a national knowledge hub, ‘buddied’ with cities to knowledge share, and visited by domestic and international experts.

The CPP will also use the Climate Council’s profile to showcase the achievements of council partners in national, local and social media.

Climate Council Chief Councillor, Professor Tim Flannery said the ability to tackle climate change also lies not just in what each council can do alone, but what they can all achieve as a collective.

“From booming  urban  centres  to  small  rural townships,  local  governments  and  their determined communities  are  set  to  become  trailblazers under  the Cities  Power Partnership. We are so excited to welcome Eurobodalla Shire Council to this landmark initiative,” he said.