We want Councillors at every single local council in Australia to receive a visit and have a conversation with local Climate Emergency Declaration campaigners.
We’ve set up a spreadsheet covering all regions or Australia with the view to finding at least one person to visit each local council. Please let us know how you go so that we can map progress on building local government support for a Climate Emergency Declaration.
Local councils’ Climate Emergency role
Local councils can declare a Climate Emergency and follow up with:
– Revamping council operations accordingly
– Education programs encouraging the local community to act accordingly
– Practical programs to help local residents and businesses act accordingly
– Outreach to encourage other local councils to adopt similar Climate Emergency policies and programs
– Lobbying to encourage their state government to declare a Climate Emergency
– Lobbying to encourage the federal government to declare a Climate Emergency
The ultimate aim is a national declaration of Climate Emergency with its ability to unlock all the required policy changes and funds for a rapid climate emergency response, but local councils can start the ball rolling by demonstrating successful climate emergency initiatives at the local level. Early successes in their own local community can then spread outwards to other local council areas and upwards to the state/territory and federal levels.
For an in-depth discussion of the local government campaign, initially in the Darebin Council area but spreading to other areas, see the Community Action in the Climate Emergency (CACE) website.
Talking to Councillors
You know your own local council and Councillors, so you are in the best position to decide what to talk about, but the ideas below might help you plan your conversations.
Listen to Darebin Councillor Trent McCarthy giving inspiration and great tips for getting your local council on side.
For Councillors who already support the Climate Emergency Declaration campaign:
– Talk about the potential role of local councils in building a nationwide climate emergency response
– Tell them about the actions taken so far by the Darebin City Council. See the Local Government page for details.
– Take them a copy of the Darebin Climate Emergency Plan
– Discuss ways you or your local group could help build support amongst your other local Councillors and community
For Councillors not yet familiar with the Climate Emergency Declaration campaign:
– Explain the campaign vision and the amount of support generated so far (number of signatures, support from eminent people including other councillors and mayors, etc.) See the Supporters page for examples.
– Talk about the potential role of local councils in building a nationwide climate emergency response
– Ask them to sign the following Statement of Support and send us a photo of them holding up the signed sheet
Click here – or right-click on the image – to download the A4 sheet for council sign-on (PDF document)
On a MAC: Hold the CTRL-button and click on the photo. A drop-down menu will then appear. Choose: ‘Save Image As’
Or, if you prefer, you can use the image below, which is the image we use for MP sign-ons.
Click here – or right-click on the image – to download the A4 sheet for council sign-on (PDF document)
For Councillors who don’t yet regard climate as an emergency:
– Take along some material indicating the urgency of taking climate action and some examples of actions taken by local governments elsewhere
– Talk about the actions being taken by the Darebin City Council. See the Local Government page for details.
– Talk about the amount of support generated so far for the Climate Emergency Declaration campaign (number of signatures, support from eminent people including other councillors and mayors, etc.) See the Supporters page for examples.
For Candidates in local council elections:
– Download, print, and take along the Councillor Statement of Support for council candidates (below). Ask them to sign it, take a photo of them holding it up, and email us the photo for inclusion on our website and in social media posts.
Click here – or right-click on the image – to download the A4 sheet for council sign-on (PDF document)
On a MAC: Hold the CTRL-button and click on the photo. A drop-down menu will then appear. Choose: ‘Save Image As’
You might also like to prepare a council candidate questionnaire something like this one used for the 2016 Darebin council elections.