Given recent debates about climate action at the City of Monash, it’s important to understand some history from this Council term. Here’s a handy breakdown. All information is publicly available at the City of Monash website, except for details regarding budget bids which do not go to public meetings of Council.
Please contact me if you have any additions or amendments to this list.
November 2016 Cr Fergeus puts a budget bid to conduct an Emissions Reduction Feasibility Study. It is not supported.
Cr Fergeus puts a budget bid to conduct initial research and development of a structure for a Monash Nature Trust. It is not supported.
13 December 2016 Cr Fergeus, Cr Little and Cr Saloumi appointed to Environmental Advisory Committee (Cr Fergeus/Cr Little Co-Chairs); Cr Fergeus first Councillor representative from Monash appointed to Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action
31 January 2017 Cr Fergeus moves a motion, Investment Exposure to Fossil Fuels:
That Council requests that Council Officers provide a report to the next Ordinary Meeting of Council which details the extent to which Council’s assets and investments are exposed to fossil fuels including petroleum, coal, and natural gas.
Cr Lake moved an amendment, seconded by Cr McCluskey, to remove any reference to fossil fuels, changing the motion to read:
That Council requests that Council officers submit a report to the next Ordinary Meeting of Council in February 2017 which details the terms deposits which the Council currently holds and the banks in which the Council holds them
The amendment was carried. Cr Klisaris, Cr James and Cr Davies voted against the motion, even with the amendment.
28 March 2017 Officers table a report, Monash Urban Landscape and Canopy Vegetation Strategy Update:
Cr Lake speaks against the Vegetation Protection Overlay, and states that an ‘overwhelming number’ of residents covered by the VPO supported changes to it, to either remove it or make it more flexible.
26 April 2017 Officers table a report, Proposed 2017-2021 Council Plan and Annual Budget 2017/18:
Cr Fergeus highlights additions he contributed to the Council Plan, including proactively managing risks resulting from climate change, reducing Council’s greenhouse emissions, and preserving and expanding bushland and passive open space. He also highlights a 40% increase in the sustainability budget resulting from his budget bid. No other Councillor is minuted as having mentioned climate change.
Cr Fergeus moves a motion, Establishment of a Friends Group for Scotchmans Creek – South-West Section:
That Council endorses support for the establishment of a Friends Group for the South-West section of Scotchmans Creek (Monash Freeway to Warrigal Road).
30 May 2017 Cr Fergeus moves a motion, Single Use Plastics and Plastic Bags:
That Council:
i) Commits to eliminating the use of single use plastic bags and other single use plastic items across all facets of Council business;
ii) Requires organisations or individuals organising an event conducted on land, in buildings, or on roads managed by Council to:
- refrain from distributing single use plastic carry bags;
- refrain from using single use plastic carry bags and plastic packaging for promotional purposes;
- refrain from the distribution of plastic straws;
- refrain from balloon use and distribution;
- avoid all unnecessary plastic packaging wherever possible (e.g. plastic covers on homemade goods etc);
- re-use event materials wherever possible (including event signage, promotional banners and flags).
iii) Develops and implements a policy and enhanced stallholder guidelines reflecting these requirements;
iv) Supports and advocates to the State Government for a state-wide ban of single use plastic bags;
v) Directs Officers to report back to Council on:
- the proposed Environment Protection Amendment (Banning Plastic Bags, Packaging and Microbeads) Bill 2016; and
- on a proposed implementation plan (including costs and timelines) to eliminate the use of single use plastic bags and other single use plastic items for all business areas including all events and activities conducted on land, in buildings, or on roads managed by Council with the view to phasing out their use.
Cr Davies votes against.
27 June 2017 Officers table a report, Adoption of 2017-18 Budget and Council Plan 2017-2021:
Cr Fergeus is minuted as the only Councillor to mention climate change in his response to the report.
The Environmental Advisory Committee tables a motion, Report on Divestment of Fossil Fuel Investment, moved by Cr Fergeus and seconded by Cr Saloumi:
That Council:
notes that Council has no direct investment (shareholdings) in any fossil fuel company or fossil fuel aligned company;
commits to adopting a positive screening approach for Council’s investment with financial institutions by actively investing with fossil free financial institutions as listed on the Market Forces website, within the parameters of Council’s Investment Policy;
advocates for fossil free financial institutions to improve their credit ratings and financial rates of return;
gives preference to fossil fuel free financial institutions when tendering for
transactional banking services, providing:
1. these services are offered at a comparable rate to services available from other
compliant financial institutions at the time;
2. these services represent ‘value for money’ and encompass the range of required
transactional banking products and services that Council requires; and
3. the financial institution and products are otherwise compliant with Council policy.
gives preference to fossil fuel free Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions (ADIs) when
making deposits, if:
1. the rate of return on investment is within 0.05 percentage points when compared
with the rates of other ADIs which comply with Council’s investment policy and are
available at the time; and
2. the financial institution and product is otherwise compliant with Council policy;
gives preference to fossil fuel free financial institutions when borrowing money if:
a. applicable interest rates are within 0.05 percentage points of interest rates
available to Council from other compliant financial institutions; and
b. the financial institution and product is otherwise compliant with Council policy;
writes to the Trustees of Vision Super and requests that Vision Super:
1. puts in place a timetable for divestment from pure-play fossil fuel companies (those
companies that get all their revenue from coal, oil or gas);
2. puts together a plan for engaging with diversified fossil fuel companies, detailing
what that engagement entails and what consequences there will be for companies
that don’t change their behaviour;
3. puts in place a timetable for divestment from fossil fuel infrastructure (gas
pipelines, coal ports etc.);
4. sets goals in the short and medium term (over the next ten years) for reducing the
carbon intensity of its investments; and
5. fully discloses their investment holdings to members;
considers any response received from Vision Super at the next Council meeting after it is received; and
includes a report on Council’s compliance with these new parameters within future Annual Reports of Council.
Cr Fergeus and Cr Saloumi vote in support. Cr James, Cr Paterson, Cr Klisaris, Cr
Little, Cr McCluskey, Cr Zographos vote against. Cr Tsoi abstains. Cr Lake and Cr
Davies do not vote due to declared conflicts of interest. Cr Lake later states that had he been in the chamber, he would have voted against the recommendation.
Cr Fergeus moves a motion, Emissions Reduction Target and Energy Contracts:
That Council:
1. Commits, in principle, to a Carbon Neutral (zero net emissions) target for Council
operations and activities and the broader local community; and
2. Undertakes strategic work in order to enable a recommendation regarding an effective, challenging and achievable date by which zero net emissions can be
achieved; and
3. Supports development of an Action Plan that will clearly set out how this target
will be achieved within the designated timeframe.
Cr Lake claims that work to complete a feasibility study to determine an achievable greenhouse gas reduction target for Council and to provide recommendations on how to achieve the target was underway and would come back to the Council over the next 12 months. Cr Lake calls zero net emissions a “naïve target”.
Cr James said that he could not support the motion unless part 1 was removed. He suggested that such motions needed to go through the Environmental Advisory Committee.
Cr Lake called the motion an “inappropriate process” and stated to Cr Fergeus that “you don’t care, you just want to pretend there was a difference between you and other Councillors when it comes to climate change”. Cr Lake repeatedly interjected during Cr Fergeus’ personal explanation, and a point of order was called by Cr Zographos. Cr Lake states that he liked the Environmental Advisory Committtee and looked forward to working with it to ensure that Council “continued to be a leader on climate change”.
Only Cr Fergeus and Cr Saloumi vote in support of the motion.
29 August 2017 Officers table a report, Monash Urban Landscape and Canopy Vegetation Strategy:
That Council:
1. Notes the content and recommendations of the Draft Monash Urban Landscape and Canopy Vegetation Strategy;
2. Releases the Draft Monash Urban Landscape and Canopy Vegetation Strategy for community consultation in accordance with the consultation program set out in this report; and
3. Notes that a further report will be presented to Council upon the completion of the community consultation program reporting on the outcome of the consultation and outlining any options and timelines including any proposed measures or controls that may be needed to implement the Strategy and to enable further consultation on these to occur before any decisions are made.
Cr Lake, with Cr Davies seconding, move to amend the report.
That Council:
1. Notes the content and recommendations prepared by a consultant contained in the Draft Monash Urban Landscape and Canopy Vegetation Strategy;
2. Expresses its general in-principle support (subject to future public consultation) for the vision outlined in the strategy, particularly to increase the treed canopy and landscaping across the municipality;
3. Notes that while this vision outlined in the strategy is likely to be supported by many in the community, the potential for further controls and restrictions on how people can manage trees on their own property is likely to be controversial within the community and there is likely to be different opinions in relation to this;
4. Further notes that given the likely controversy around any new potential controls and further restrictions that may be considered, it would be more meaningful for Council to consider and outline potential approaches which may be available to deliver the vision (including approaches which encourage and incentivise a greening of Monash rather than compels it or which seeks to achieve that outcome through excessive controls or restrictions); and
5.Directs Council officers to prepare a discussion paper for further Council consideration to facilitate a more effective community consultation approach by:
1. summarising the general vision of the strategy; and
2. analysing potential implementation options including any proposed measures
or controls that may be utilised or considered to implement the strategy .
6. Commits to releasing the draft Strategy together with the Council paper on implementation options at the earliest opportunity.
31 October 2017 Cr Fergeus moves a motion, Reducing Energy Costs for Households Through Increased Access to Solar:
That Council:
1. Agrees to become part of the Solar $avers program and project control group to facilitate lower energy costs through the uptake of solar by Monash pensioner householders.
2. Provides approval for the CEO to sign the Solar $avers Project Control group agreement to formalise the partnership.
3. Agrees that Monash City Council will facilitate the program through the unsecured personal low interest bank loan option which requires the householder to enter into a loan arrangement directly with Bank Australia.
4. Notes that the program will be facilitated through the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) and will require direct costs of less than $2000, plus officer time.
The motion is carried.
Cr Fergeus and Cr Davies move a motion, Reducing Energy Costs for Business Through Environmental Upgrade Agreements:
That Council:
1. Endorses Council officers to facilitate Environmental Upgrade Agreements with
interested Monash businesses by partnering with the Sustainable Melbourne
Fund.
2. Provides approval for the CEO to sign the Partnership agreement for
Environmental Upgrade program with the Sustainable Melbourne Fund to formalise the partnership.
3. Notes that the program will be facilitate through the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) and the Sustainable Melbourne Fund and will require $10,000 over 2 years, in direct costs, plus officer time
The motion is carried.
November 2017 Cr Fergeus and Cr McCluskey put a budget bid to establish a Sustainability Hub in Mulgrave. It is supported.
Cr Fergeus is unanimously elected Chair of the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action.
24 April 2018 Cr Fergeus, Cr Little and Cr Jamesmove a motion, Container Deposit Scheme:
That Council:
1. Supports the introduction of Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) legislation in Victoria; and
2. Submits a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council Meeting – 18 May 2018.
3. Requests the MAV to reiterate its support for the introduction of CDS legislation in Victoria.
The motion is carried.
26 June 2018 The Environmental Advisory Committee tables a motion, Responsible Investment
Cr Fergeus moves the motion, seconded by Cr Little. Cr Davies declares a conflict of interest.
That Council:
1. Notes that Council has no direct investment (shareholdings) in any fossil fuel
company or fossil fuel aligned company.
2. Commits to adopting a positive screening approach for Council’s investment with financial institutions by actively investing with fossil free financial institutions within the parameters of Council’s investment policy.
3. Advocates for fossil free financial institutions to improve their credit rating and financial rate of return.
4. Amends Council’s investment policy to allow for long-term investments in financial institutions receiving a ‘BBB’ credit rating from leading credit ratings agencies.
5. Gives preference to fossil fuel free financial institutions when tendering for transactional banking services, providing:
a) these services are offered at a comparable rate to services available from other compliant financial institutions at the time;
b) these services represent ‘value for money’;
c) the financial institution and product is otherwise compliant with Council policy.
6. Gives preference to fossil fuel free Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions when
making deposits if:
a) the rate of return on investment is greater than or equal to the rates of other Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions which comply with Council’s investment policy and are available at the time;
b) the financial institution and product is otherwise compliant with Council policy.
7. Gives preference to fossil fuel free financial institutions when borrowing money if:
a) applicable interest rates are lesser than or equal to interest rates available to Council from other compliant financial institutions;
b) the financial institution and product is otherwise compliant with Council policy.
8. Includes a report on Council’s compliance with these new parameters within
future annual reports of Council.
The motion is carried.
30 October 2018 Officers table a report, Monash Open Space Strategy
That Council:
1. Notes the changes made to the draft Monash Open Space Strategy in response to public consultation undertaken in September and October 2017.
2. Notes that following the SGS Planning & Economics review a key direction of the Strategy is to require Public Open Space contribution of 10% for subdivision of all land in Monash.
3. Adopt the updated Monash Open Space Strategy.
4. Authorise the Director City Development to request the Minister for Planning for authorisation to prepare and exhibit an amendment to the Monash Planning Scheme as outlined in this report, including:
- Changes Clause 53.01 to require that all subdivision is required to provide a public open space contribution at a rate of 10%.
- A new Local Planning Policy to set out the policy for the process for open space contributions.
5. Upon receiving authorisation from the Minister for Planning, exhibit the amendment in accordance with Section 19 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
Cr McCluskey moves a procedural motion that the matter is deferred to the November 2018 meeting of Council. Cr Tsoi, Cr Lake, Cr Klisaris and Cr Davies vote for the motion. It is lost.
Cr Fergeus moves the substantive motion, seconded by Cr James.
Cr Fergeus, Cr James, Cr Paterson, Cr Little, Cr Zographos, and Cr Saloumi vote in favour, Cr Lake, Cr Davies, Cr Klisaris, Cr McCluskey and Cr Tsoi vote against. The motion is carried.
Officers table a report, Monash Urban Landscape and Canopy Vegetation Strategy
That Council:
1. Notes the Consultation Report, September 2018, that outlines the results of the consultation undertaken for the Draft Monash Urban Landscape and Canopy Vegetation Strategy;
2. Having regard to the proposed changes outlined in this report in response to the issues raised during the community consultation process, authorises the Director to make those changes to the draft Strategy;
3. Adopt the updated Monash Urban Landscape and Canopy Vegetation Strategy;
4. Notes that a further report will be presented to Council outlining in detail an implementation plan for the Strategy that includes possible and proposed planning scheme options for consideration by Council;
5. Advise all submitters in writing of Council’s decision, thanking them for their contribution;
6. Notes that a further report will be presented to Council outlining potential changes to permit requirements for tree removal.
Cr Fergeus moves the substantive motion, seconded by Cr James.
Cr Fergeus, Cr James, Cr Paterson, Cr Little, Cr Tsoi, Cr McCluskey and Cr Saloumi vote in favour. Cr Lake, Cr Davies, Cr Klisaris, and Cr Zographos vote against. The motion is carried.
November 2018 Cr Fergeus puts a budget bid to participate in the Solar Savers ‘rates loans’ project. It is not supported.
Cr Fergeus is re-elected, unanimously, as Chair of the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action.
27 November 2018 Cr Fergeus, Cr Little and Cr Saloumi move a motion, IPCC Special Report – Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees
That Council:
1. Notes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °;
2. Notes in particular the following findings of the report, issued with a high degree of confidence by the IPCC:
I. To date, Human activities are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels;
II. Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C by as early as 2030;
III. Warming from anthropogenic emissions from the pre-industrial period to the present will persist for centuries to millennia and will continue to cause further long- term changes in the climate system, such as sea level rise, with associated impacts;
IV. Climate induced impacts on health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security, and economic growth are projected to increase with global warming of 1.5°C and increase significantly further (in many cases double) with a 2°C rise;
V. Most adaptation needs will be lower for global warming of 1.5°C compared to 2°C;
VI. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot would require rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy, land, urban and infrastructure (including transport and buildings);
VII. Stated mitigation ambitions as submitted under the Paris Agreement would not limit global warming to 1.5°C, even if supplemented by very challenging increases in the scale and ambition of emissions reductions after 2030;
VIII. Avoiding overshoot and reliance on future largescale deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) can only be achieved if global CO2 emissions start to decline well before 2030;
IX. Strengthening the capacities for climate action of national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities can support the implementation of ambitious actions implied by limiting global warming to 1.5°C;
3. Acknowledges the unprecedented levels of urgency declared by the IPCC, and other scientific bodies, with regard to the need to drastically reduce emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C. The Special Report in particular predicts that a 2°C rise in average global temperature would most likely:
4. See the Arctic entirely ice free one year in 10, compared with one year in 100 at 1.5°C
5. Lead to the death of 98% of corals, almost certainly leading to the death of the Great Barrier Reef
6. Reduce the yields of global fisheries by 3 million tonne, twice that of a decrease at 1.5°C.
7. See the loss of species of between 200% and 300% worse at 2°C as opposed to 1.5°C
Cr Fergeus, Cr Little, Cr Saloumi, Cr Klisaris, Cr McCluskey, Cr James, Cr Lake, and Cr Tsoi vote in favour. Cr Zographos and Cr Davies vote against. Cr Paterson is absent from the chamber. The motion is carried.
Cr Fergeus moves a motion, Cities Power Partnership Summit, reporting on his attendance at this event:
That Council:
1. Notes Cr Fergeus’ report on his attendance at the Cities Power Partnership 2018;
2. Notes the Australian Capital Territory Government’s offer to assist Cities Power Partnership members by coordinating an electric vehicle ‘bulk buy’ purchasing agreement;
3. Notes the existence of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s Local Government Finance Program;
4. Notes that Brisbane City Council, the largest Council in Australia, has gone carbon neutral;
5. Notes that Councils must take the risk of climate change into consideration and that a failure to act may create a legal liability.
Cr James moves an amendment, seconded by Cr Davies:
That the motion be amended by the removal of parts 2 to 5.
Cr Davies, Cr James, Cr McCluskey, Cr Lake, Cr Klisaris and Cr Paterson vote in support. Cr Fergeus, Cr Little and Cr Saloumi vote against. Cr Zographos and Cr Tsoi abstain. The amendment is carried.
The substantive motion, as amended, is carried.
30 April 2019 Officers table a report, Living Melbourne: Our Urban Forest Strategy:
Cr Little moves the report, seconded by Cr Fergeus.
That Council:
1. Note the content of the Mount Waverley Activity Centre Discussion Paper.
2. Release the Mount Waverley Activity Centre Discussion Paper for community consultation and targeted stakeholder engagement in accordance with the consultation plan set out in this report.
3. Note that the outcomes from the community consultation and targeted stakeholder engagement will inform the structure planning process, and that a further report will be presented to Council upon the completion of a draft Structure Plan.
1. Notes the Vision and Goals of Endorses Living Melbourne: our metropolitan urban forest strategy (Attachment 1):
Vision: Our thriving communities are resilient and connected through nature,
Goals:
a. Healthy people,
b. Abundant nature, and c. Natural infrastructure.
2. Endorses Living Melbourne: our metropolitan urban forest strategy, which means supporting Living Melbourne’s Vision, Goals and Actions and committing to work in partnership with the other endorsing organisations towards its implementation; and
3. Authorises the use of the Monash City Council logo, as an endorsing organisation, in the final version of Living Melbourne, to be launched in June 2019.
Cr Davies is the only vote against. The motion is carried.
Cr Fergeus moves a motion, South Australian Renewables Roadtrip:
That Cr Fergeus be given approval to attend the South Australian (SA) Renewables Road Trip from the 1-3 May 2019 run by Cities Power Partnership.
The motion is carried.
25 June 2019 Officers table a report, Proposed New Planning Provisions for Tree and Vegetation Removal Monash Urban Landscape and Canopy Vegetation Strategy Implementation:
The motion is moved by Cr Paterson and seconded by Cr Fergeus.
That Council:
1. Notes the proposed changes to the planning provisions for tree and vegetation removal and buildings and works in Monash.
2. Notes that these proposed changes include:
a) removing the existing Vegetation Protection Overlay, with the exception of the property at 24 Samada Street Notting Hill,
b) introducing a Significant Landscape Overlay across Monash to require a planning permit for canopy tree removal,
c) defining the height of a canopy tree at 6 metres,
d) exempting the removal of canopy trees within 3 metres (or 2 metres in the case of SLO3, which is proposed to apply to parts of Oakleigh and Hughesdale) of an existing dwelling from the proposed planning permit requirements, and
e) including decision guidelines that take into account the appropriateness of the tree to its suburban location.
3. Directs the Director of City Development to finalise the amendment documentation in accordance with this report.
4. Request the Minister for Planning to introduce two interim Significant Landscape Overlay across the municipality to require a permit for canopy tree removal whilst the formal amendment process for permanent planning controls is undertaken.
5. Request the Minister for Planning to authorise Council, pursuant to Section 8A of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, to prepare an amendment to the Monash Planning Scheme generally as outlined in this report.
6. Upon receiving authorisation from the Minister for Planning, directs the Director City Development to prepare and exhibit the Amendment in accordance with Section 19 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987
7. Notes that a further report will be presented to Council after the exhibition of the proposed Amendment.
After a minor amendment, the motion is carried.
Cr Lake, Cr Davies and Cr Klisaris vote against. All other Councillors vote in favour.
Cr Fergeus moves a motion, Cities Power Partnership SA Renewables Roadtrip:
That Council notes the report on the Cities Power Partnership’s South Australian Renewables Road Trip attended by Cr Josh Fergeus.
The motion is carried.
30 July 2019 Officers table a report, Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreements
That Council:
1. Supports a 100% renewable energy target for Council’s electricity use through;
- commitment to 90% of Council’s electricity use to renewable energy power purchase agreement(s) which includes council’s large energy sites (54%) and unmetered public lighting (36%) seeking renewable energy solutions, which may include power purchase agreements, for the remaining small market energy sites (10%).
2. Agrees to enter into a tender process to purchase renewable energy via the Local Government Power Purchase Agreement (LGPPA) with other Victoria Councils, in partnership with MAV.
3. Agrees to enter into a tender process to purchase renewable energy via the South East Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (SEMREP) led by SECCCA.
4. Delegates authority to the Chief Executive Officer to enter into and sign the relevant contract documents for the LGPPA and SEMREP with preferred supplier(s) from December 2020, subject to the final offers being within the agreed favourable Pricing Parameters.
The motion is moved by Cr Tsoi and seconded by Cr Fergeus.
Cr Davies and Cr Zographos vote against. Cr Fergeus, Cr Lake, Cr Tsoi, Cr Paterson, Cr James, Cr McCluskey, and Cr Little vote in favour. Cr Klisaris and Cr Saloumi are absent.
Cr Fergeus moves a motion, Cities Power Partnership – Statement from Australian Mayors:
That Council supports and authorises the Mayor to sign the joint statement released by Cities Power Partnership in support of national action to make tackling climate change a top priority.
The motion is seconded by Cr James. The motion is carried.
The statement reads:
“As members of the Cities Power Partnership local government climate alliance, we demand national action and call upon the Federal Government to join us in making tackling climate change the top priority.
At the local level we’re working with our communities and with each other to develop a strong climate response, and to support Australia’s shift to clean energy.
All tiers of government have a role to play in driving down Australia’s greenhouse gas pollution, and we need swift action at the Federal level to address our escalating national emissions.
We demand three major actions from our Federal leaders:
· Strong national climate policy aligned to the science and a national commitment to rapidly transitioning to 100% clean energy
· Support the rapid phase out of fossil fuel subsidies which contribute to climate change
· Provide long-term finance to support implementation of clean energy and sustainable transport, such as rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicle charging stations, public and active transport infrastructure in council and community areas”
27 August 2019
Cr Fergeus table a petition signed by 506 people calling on Council to declare a climate
emergency and take urgent action on climate change.
The Environmental Advisory Committee table a report, Prioritising Council’s Response to Climate Change:
That Council:
1. Notes that the latest available emissions data shows Australia has increasing, not reducing, carbon emissions;
2. Notes that the Municipal Association of Victoria State Council (May 2019) and the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly (June 2019) have both declared a climate emergency.
3. Notes that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that at current levels of emissions
4. Notes that South-Eastern suburbs, including Clayton, are among the most at- risk from heatwaves caused by the current trajectory of global warming.
5. Notes that the average annual number of days above 35 degrees in Melbourne is likely to increase from the current 9 days per annum up to 26 days by 2070 if immediate action is not taken to reduce emissions
6. Notes that weather related disasters have increased worldwide and in 2019 cost approximately US $215 billion.
7. Notes that Council has already identified tackling climate change as the top priority for governments in Australia (July 2019); we are on a path to warming 4°C by 2100, which if reached would trigger a chain of cataclysmic changes that include extreme heatwaves, declining global food stocks, substantial species extinctions and sea-level rising that would affect hundreds of millions of people.
8. Responds to these matters and the concerns noted by Council in November 2018, raised by the publication of the October 2018 Special Report of the IPCC, by: - Joining more than 915 jurisdictions around the world at the time of writing - including the United Kingdom, Portugal, Canada, Ireland, the ACT, Auckland, Canterbury, Catalonia, Geneva, Warsaw, San Francisco, Sydney, Los Angeles, New York, Melbourne, Hobart, Wales, Scotland, Argentina, Ballarat, Newcastle, Paris, Naples, Darwin - in acknowledging that we are facing a climate emergency and that urgent action is required by all levels of government;
- Acknowledging that it is still possible to restore a safe climate and prevent most of the anticipated long-term climate impacts – but only if societies across the world adopt an emergency mode of action that can enable the restructuring of the physical economy at the necessary scale and speed;
- Giving priority to policy and actions that will provide for both mitigation and adaptation in response to accelerating global warming and climate change; - Acknowledging Council’s work on climate change to date, in particular the work of Sustainable Monash and the Environmental Advisory Committee; - Incorporating Council’s response to the Climate Emergency as a key feature of the 2021-2025 Council Plan;
- Developing a whole of council Climate Emergency Action Plan to complement Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy and enhance local resilience and reduce climate impacts in a timeframe that is as fast as practicably possible, in line with scientific evidence and advice. This should incorporate community consultation and take into account the extensive work being done by other sub-national governments in this space.
The motion is moved by Cr Fergeus and seconded by Cr Saloumi. Cr Zographos, Cr Tsoi, Cr Davies, Cr Lake, Cr James, Cr Klisaris, and Cr McCluskey vote against the motion. The motion is defeated.
Cr Fergeus then moved an alternative motion. Cr Lake called a point of order, contesting that the alternative motion was not being validly raised. The Mayor did not uphold the point of order.
Cr Saloumi seconded the alternative motion:
That Council:
Resolves to strengthen and accelerate its response to global warming and climate change;
Directs the Chief Executive Officer to develop a whole of Council Global Warming Action Plan to complement Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, to be presented to Council no later than February 2020. This plan should:
- Detail actions which aim to enhance local resilience to accelerating global warming;
- Detail actions which aim to reduce corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5 degrees (Celcius) of warming from pre-industrial levels, as per the best available scientific evidence and advice;
- Provide ambitious timelines for achieving key milestones in emissions reduction and decarbonisation, including zero net emissions;
Allocates up to $90,000 from the 2019-20 Council Budget for this purpose; Directs the Chief Executive Officer to incorporate Council’s response to global warming and a changing climate as a key feature of the draft 2020-2021 Council Budget, Long Term Financial Plan and the 2021-2025 Council Plan;
Lists the reduction of corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions as a key performance indicator for the Chief Executive Officer.
Cr Lake then moved a procedural motion ‘that the matter lay on the table’. Cr Klisaris seconded the procedural motion. Cr Lake, Cr James, Cr Klisaris, Cr McCluskey and Cr Tsoi voted in favour. Cr Fergeus, Cr Saloumi, Cr Zographos voted against. Cr Davies abstained. Cr Paterson and Cr Little were absent.
The procedural motion was carried and the alternative motion moved by Cr Fergeus ‘lay on the table’, available for retrieval and consideration at future meetings of Council.
24 September 2019
Cr Fergeus table a petition signed by 716 people calling on Council to declare a climate
emergency and take urgent action on climate change.
Cr James moves a procedural motion to have his motion, item 6.3, tabled and debated prior
to item 6.5, dealing with Cr Fergeus’ motion from the previous month. This motion is
carried.
Cr James moves a motion, Council’s Response to Climate Change:
That Council:
1. Resolves to strengthen and further prioritise its response to dealing with environmental and climate concerns.
2. Directs the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to provide a report and recommendations to Council by no later than February 2020 outlining how Council can become carbon neutral and achieve zero-net emission by 2025, 2030, 2040 and any other target the CEO wishes to include as an option (the Report). For each target date, the report should make it clear what the environmental benefits will be for adopting that target and the financial costs to Council to reach each target as compared to the status quo.
3. Further, the Report should also provide commentary, advice and recommendations on the following:
- What are the examples of leading response to climate change by other local councils and government entities which might be relevant to Monash;
- Actions which Council could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Council’s operation;
- Measures Council can take to enhance local community resilience to the effects and impacts of global warming and to assist the community with their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Ways in which Council can prioritise the use of recycled materials in its operations:
-Outline a number of budget initiatives to achieve the desired outcomes and refer those to the 2020/2021 Budget, for funding
- Outline potential additions to the Council Plan and LTFP to help prioritise and achieve the desired outcomes.
4. Prioritises the delivery of a whole of Council strategy for tackling climate change, as referred to in the Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2016-2026, with an aim to have it presented to Council by September 2020.
5. Directs officers to allocate the required funds from the 2019/2020 budget.
Cr Fergeus moves an amendment, seconded by Cr Saloumi:
That Council:
Resolves to strengthen and further prioritise its response to global warming and climate change;
Notes that Council’s Emissions Reduction Strategic Approach will soon be presented to Council and affirms Council’s commitment to become carbon neutral and achieve zero-net emissions;
3. Directs the CEO to present a report to Council no later than February 2020 which should provide commentary, advice and recommendations on the following:
- What are the examples of leading response to climate change by other local councils and government entities which might be relevant to Monash;
- Actions which Council could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Council’s operation;
- Measures Council can take to enhance local community resilience to the effects and impacts of global warming and to assist the community with their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Ways in which Council can prioritise the use of recycled materials in its operations:
- Outline a number of budget initiatives to achieve the desired outcomes and refer those to the 2020/2021 Budget, for funding
- Outline potential additions to the Council Plan and LTFP to help prioritise and achieve the desired outcomes
4. Prioritises the delivery of a whole of Council strategy for tackling climate change, as referred to in the Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2016-2026, with an aim to have it presented to Council by February 2020
Cr Fergeus and Cr Saloumi vote for the amendment. Cr Lake, Cr James, Cr Klisaris, Cr Paterson, Cr Tsoi and Cr Little vote against. The amendment is lost.
Cr McCluskey, Cr Zographos and Cr Davies are absent.
Cr Saloumi then moves a second amendment, seconded by Cr Fergeus, changing the delivery date for the proposed “whole of Council strategy for tackling climate change” from September 2020, during the Council election period, to February 2020. This amendment is also lost.
Cr James’ substantive motion, unamended, passes.
Cr Fergeus, Cr Saloumi and Cr Little support debate of the alternative motion ‘laying on the table’:
That Council:
Resolves to strengthen and accelerate its response to global warming and climate change;
Directs the Chief Executive Officer to develop a whole of Council Global Warming Action Plan to complement Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, to be presented to Council no later than February 2020. This plan should:
- Detail actions which aim to enhance local resilience to accelerating global warming;
- Detail actions which aim to reduce corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5 degrees (Celcius) of warming from pre-industrial levels, as per the best available scientific evidence and advice;
- Provide ambitious timelines for achieving key milestones in emissions reduction and decarbonisation, including zero net emissions;
Allocates up to $90,000 from the 2019-20 Council Budget for this purpose; Directs the Chief Executive Officer to incorporate Council’s response to global warming and a changing climate as a key feature of the draft 2020-2021 Council Budget, Long Term Financial Plan and the 2021-2025 Council Plan;
Lists the reduction of corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions as a key performance indicator for the Chief Executive Officer.
Cr Lake, Cr Klisaris, Cr Tsoi, Cr Paterson and Cr James do not support debate. The motion is lost.