Exploring the critical role local councils can play in reversing global warming

Local government as a way of getting climate emergency action through

Photos by Julian Meehan, audio recordings by The Sustainable Hour


Philip SuttonTrent McCarthy | Mik AidtBryony EdwardsAdrian Whitehead

How councils can reverse global warming

With State and Federal Governments failing to implement policies to reestablish a safe climate, this workshop at The Sustainable Living Festival in Melbourne explored the critical role local government can play in both reversing global warming and protecting lives in their community.

Issues explored included leadership, reaching zero emissions, draw-down through council running biochar systems, creating community resilience, and a discussion on how audience members can encourage their local council to take up these measures.

Welcome by Adrian Whitehead



Introduction to the meeting and the topic by Adrian Whitehead, Master Compere for the event and Save the Planet party’s national campaign leader.



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Philip Sutton



Philip Sutton, author and climate action strategist, talks about why local governments are critical in accelerating a climate emergency response at federal and state levels.



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Trent McCarthy



Trent McCarthy, Darebin Greens Councillor, talks about his initial work on the Climate Emergency Declaration at Darebin and the North Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA), exploring ways in which to talk to councillors about climate emergency.

Trent McCarthy starts talking about declaring a climate emergency in council after around 5:30 minutes.



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Mik Aidt



Mik Aidt, climate emergency campaigner and radio host, talks about the Climate Emergency Declaration petition and mobilisation campaign.

» More information about the campaign on www.climateemergencydeclaration.org


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Bryony Edwards



Bryony Edwards, candidate for Save the Planet party in local and state elections, talks about her experience in running for local government and the opportunities it brings for campaigning on the climate emergency.



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Questions to Trent McCarthy



Trent McCarthy answers three questions, and MC Adrian Whitehead rounds off the event with a talk about how councils can actually reverse global warming by helping remove CO2 and methane from the atmosphere.



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The 50-minute session was organised by the Safe Climate Alliance and was held in the ‘Under the Gum’ tent at the Sustainable Living Festival on Sunday 12 February 2017 at 2:00 pm in Melbourne, Australia.

» Read more about the festival on www.slf.org.au 

» Melbourne festival aims high: “Big impact for big change”
Interview with Sustainable Living Festival director Luke Taylor





Sign the climate emergency declaration petition