On Tuesday 25 August 2020, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (MPS) unanimously adopted its ambitious Climate Emergency Plan – Ensuring Our Future: Our Climate Emergency Response, the sixth Climate Emergency Plan developed and adopted by an Australian local government.
Read More“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.
Read MoreICLEI and Swinburne University have now conducted interviews with the first group of 9 CitiesWithNature Pioneer councils. The interviews are designed to learn about council priorities for nature-based solutions and to develop the best way for the research community and ICLEI to support their work. More interviews will be conducted in the coming months and at least one focus group webinar will be held to discuss the findings with interviewees.
Read MoreMayors and councillors are invited to submit an application for the inaugural Oceania GCoM Steering Committee by 7 September 2020. The Steering Committee will provide strategic advice and advocacy for the GCoM program throughout Oceania region. It will also communicate the benefits and opportunities of GCoM and encourage other councils to join and explore opportunities to grow the program through the formation of partnerships.
Read MoreIt’s been one year since the City of Wollongong declared a climate emergency. Since then, the Council has progressed on many fronts including net-zero emissions targets, urban greening, cycling infrastructure, waste management and sustainable procurement. Wollongong is one of just 27 Australian signatories to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, having joined in 2017.
Read MoreICLEI Oceania is delighted to welcome two new members to the ICLEI network, the City of West Torrens and Cairns Regional Council. Now part of ICLEI’s global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments, Cairns and West Torrens will contribute to and benefit from city-to-city knowledge exchange, technical expertise and contribute to global advocacy campaigns and processes.
Read MoreThis year, Earth Overshoot Day falls on 22 August 2020, three weeks later than in 2019. Earth Overshoot Day is significant for local governments because it can help to reframe global environmental issues within a context of global limits.
Read MoreThe City of Newcastle is working closely with community and local businesses to create a new 2025 Climate Action Plan to fast-track its vision for a low-carbon future. The draft Plan is on exhibition until 5pm Monday 31 August 2020.
Read MoreSince the start of the pandemic, there has been a marked increase in the appreciation and demand for open public spaces, as outlined by Greener Spaces Better Places.
Read MoreThe Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has supported the recommendation by the CSIRO that all jurisdictions should work with local government to improve climate and disaster resilience. This specific recommendation is one of 25 in the CSIRO’s Climate and Disaster Resilience report. A more integrated and long-term approach to landscape management and hazard reduction was also a priority recommendation from a new report by the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action and the Climate Council.
Read MoreThe City of West Torrens is excited about joining the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Program and recently provided us with this article about why this has been an important step for their Council and community.
Read MoreOn 23 July 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) unveiled a new Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The Global Standard is the first-ever set of benchmarks for NbS and will be applied in practice by local and regional governments through the international CitiesWithNature program.
Read MoreThis "ICLEI's Race to Zero Dialogues" webinar highlights climate neutrality leadership and action experiences from political and technical representatives of ICLEI members in Europe, Japan, Korea and Australia. Webinar outcomes will be presented as inputs to Daring Cities 2020 – the Global Virtual Forum on Urban Leaders Taking on Climate Emergency on 7-28 October as well as Race-To-Zero November Dialogues.
Read MoreIf managing multiple disasters at a time will be the new normal, how can local governments and their communities simultaneously manage recovery efforts while coping with concurrent disasters? This may be a significant turning point for the reconceptualisation and reintegration of “resilience” into all aspects of local government disaster planning.
Read MoreFive Mayors and Councillors from Australia and New Zealand have been newly elected to ICLEI Oceania’s Regional Executive Committee, an advisory group supporting local governments and sustainable development. Aaron Hawkins - Mayor, Dunedin City Council; Amanda Stone - Councillor, Yarra City Council, Victoria; Ann Ferguson - Mayor, Mount Barker District Council, South Australia; Anna Reynolds - Lord Mayor, City of Hobart, Tasmania; and Nuatali Nelmes - Lord Mayor, City of Newcastle.
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