RexCom Chair, Cr Amanda Stone: The power of collective council action

Cr Amanda Stone, newly elected Chair of ICLEI Oceania’s Regional Executive Committee, shares how mayors, councillors and communities can be a larger part of a global movement of meaningful change.

“The most significant action globally has been, as always, at local government. On climate action, halting biodiversity loss, building resilience, creating circular economies and addressing inequality, ICLEI is the one global organisation which can connect, support and enhance the capacities of local governments everywhere to maintain and intensify their efforts,” said Cr Stone.

Cr Stone says this is especially important because local governments are the closest level of government to people. Councils can “demonstrate what is possible, that all actions can make a real difference and that citizens can be part of that change.”

Cr Stone is also very positive about the members of the newly elected RexCom. “This executive can lead—and we have very strong Mayors who will drive it. They have a clear vision, a clear focus and are very motivated.”

“The new committee has made it a priority to boost the impact of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. And that’s really positive because it provides opportunities to work through Mayors and councillors. There are also other concrete ways that councils can engage with ICLEI such through CitiesWithNature, or ICLEI’s EcoMobility Alliance.”

Cr Stone’s message for other councillors is that even in the face of overwhelming challenges, we can all make a difference through collective action. She says that if communities “see local councils taking action and that they are also part of the global movement it can be extremely powerful.”

Cr Stone was elected in October 2016 and is a representative of the Langridge ward in the City of Yarra. She served as Yarra’s Mayor in 2008-2009 and again in 2016-2017. Cr Stone serves on a number of not-for-profit organisations involved in social justice and the environment, she chairs the Collingwood headspace Consortium and is a member of the Greens.