Mel Yuan for Brunswick

Climate Action Moreland advocates for local action on climate change. The priorities they are pressing Moreland candidates on are:

• Triple bottom line accounting
• Upfield Rail Line duplication
• Tram network extension
• Shifting peoples transport to more sustainable modes
• Dealing with heat vulnerability (heat island effect)
• Waste management
• Energy-efficient and renewables
• Pollution and litter
• Environmental co-benefits in economic development
• Food system security
• Switching to plant-based diets
• Vegetation for cooling and biodiversity in planning
• Switching to low-emission cement
• Citizen’s assembly

I have asked Climate Action Moreland on their opinion of the current Council Plan and where more action is needed.

I have highlighted (bold) those initiatives that are either currently the subject or Council efforts or where additional advances could be made and that therefore have the greatest relevance. In italics are those items which are a State Government responsibility and Council needs to have strong advocacy (see my post on a Mayor for Moreland).

The interesting ones are where there is overlap between State and Local government, such as where State government legislation and funding are in play but Local council can play a role as the “last mile” in getting government programs into the hands of Moreland residents and ratepayers.

Moreland Council already has existing strategies and policies on most of these topics. My question is – to what extent are they actually delivering?