Climate Change

Press release

Mundaring declares climate change emergency

Mundaring Shire Council has voted to declare a climate emergency.

The vote at the December 10 Council meeting followed strong discussion among councilors, deputations from concerned residents and strong public support.

The Mundaring in Transition, a group with more than 300 members, instigated this vote through a proposal put to, and supported unanimously by, the Shire’s Environmental Advisory Committee.

The Mundaring in Transition (MiT) Climate Change Interest Group would like to thank Mundaring Shire’s councilors for their sincere engagement with the issue of climate change and for their honest exchanges with each other in the Council and their recognition of the strong community support that led to this declaration.

MiT would also like to acknowledge the work undertaken by Shire officers in support of environmental and sustainability issues over the past decade and more, and pay particular tribute to the officers who provided detailed background material that informed the Council’s debate.

In promoting the declaration of a climate emergency, MiT applauds the work done by the Shire in support of retaining biodiversity, reducing emissions and empowering local environment groups. MiT also understands that declaring a climate change emergency is actually acknowledging a simple and indisputable matter of fact: there is right now a global climate change emergency.

What is also indisputable from the information provided to councilors is that the Shire of Mundaring is one of the 10 Shires across Australia that will be most affected by climate change. The effects include a very great risk from wildfires, massive loss of biodiversity, and a variety of strong social impacts – as by-products of the lack of public transport, and lack of support structures by other levels of government to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Mundaring Shire Council’s decision reflects the fact that the Shire has been at the forefront of local governments committed to sustainability in all its forms, so this declaration is a logical next step that builds on years of work, and the many projects planned into the future.

This vote is consistent with undertakings by the Shire brought about through its membership of the EMRC and the WA Local Government Association, both of which acknowledge a climate emergency.

What this is NOT, is mere symbolism. Symbolism is important, but declaring an emergency is also a clear signal of intent to fight for sustainability. It is a statement that things have to be done differently, done smarter and done with the clear goal of survival for all in the Mundaring Shire.

The declaration of an emergency is the start of a process and does not assume that the answers to wicked problems are already available. It does not commit the Shire to expenditure, but in streamlining the Shire’s focus in key areas may enable efficiencies, notably in the ways in which community groups can collaborate.

This has strong community support and follows from Shire surveys of residents on what they value most in the Hills. The answer was strongly, and consistently: the environment.

To those who say this is not the job of a Shire Council, we say that in the face of an emergency it is up to everyone to do what they can, and that in an emergency we must just do what is right, not what is easy.

This declaration can be seen as a light to be guided by in all relevant decision-making – in such things as planning, lobbying State Government and in deciding what events are supported and in which groups can be assisted to work together to mitigate the effects of climate change.

It is now up to all of us to make sure that we work to save our communities and our environment and build toward a sustainable future.

Contact person:
Patrick Crichton, Convener, MiT Climate Change Interest Group

The Climate Change Interest Group (CCIG)  gathers and shares knowledge about the causes and known or potential impacts of climate change so that our community is able to respond to the issue based on the latest authoritative information. 
People interested in this group should contact Patrick Crichton at: transition@mt.org.au

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