1000/1000
Hot
Most Recent
There is no comment~
More
Climate Emergency is being declared in Australia similarly to many other jurisdictions across the world (actions known as Climate emergency declaration). One such jurisdiction in Australia, Darebin City Council, was the first one in the world to declare a climate emergency in 2016. This page lists all known climate emergency declarations within Australian jurisdictions across all three levels of government in Australia (Local, State, and Federal).
There is currently no declaration of a climate emergency at the Federal level in Australia, although there have been multiple motions moved to declare one.
In October 2019, the Australian Labor Party supported the Australian Greens Party's motion to declare a climate emergency. The motion was additionally supported by crossbenchers Zali Steggall, Helen Haines, and Andrew Wilkie, as well as Centre Alliance.[1] However, the proposition failed with members of the Morrison Government and some crossbenchers voting against it.[1]
The Australian Capital Territory is the first and only territory/state to have declared a climate emergency. The South Australian Parliament voted for a climate emergency in the upper house in South Australia but this has not passed the lower house.
In June 2019, Councilor Trent McCarthy of the City of Darebin brought together councilors and parliamentarians in Australia and around the world online link-ups to connect the work of climate emergency-declared councils and governments. Following these link-ups and a successful motion at the National General Assembly of Local Government, McCarthy announced the formation of Climate Emergency Australia, a new network of Australian governments and councils advocating for a climate emergency response.
Local Government has been the most active level of government at declaring climate emergencies in Australia. Currently, every state in Australia has at least one local government jurisdiction that has declared a climate emergency. There are only two capital city local governments that have not declared a climate emergency, the City of Perth which has not yet voted on a climate emergency declaration, and the City of Brisbane which has voted against a climate emergency motion.[4] Below is a list of local government jurisdictions that have declared a climate emergency, voted against a climate emergency or have not voted on a climate emergency.
36 of 128 Local Government Jurisdictions in NSW have declared a climate emergency. This is the highest number of climate emergencies declared of any state however, Victoria has the highest percentage of climate emergency declarations.
There is only one local government jurisdiction in the Northern Territory that has declared a climate emergency and that is the City of Darwin.
There is one Local Government Jurisdiction that has declared a climate emergency in Queensland, Noosa City Council.[42] Brisbane City Council voted against a climate emergency and is one of two capital city zones in Australia that have not declared a climate emergency.[4]
16/67 Local Government Jurisdictions have declared a climate emergency in South Australia. The Town of Gawler was the first local government area to declare a climate emergency in South Australia.
There are four councils in Tasmania that have declared a Climate Emergency. There are three councils that have rejected/voted against the declaration of a climate emergency.
32 of 79 Local Government jurisdictions in Victoria have declared a climate emergency, this is the highest percentage of climate emergencies declared for any state. Darebin City Council in Victoria was the first jurisdiction in the world to declare a climate emergency in 2016.[65]
9 Local Government Jurisdictions in Western Australia have declared a climate emergency. Additionally, the Western Australian Local Government Association WALGA have created a Climate Change Declaration that has been signed by 40 of Western Australia's local government associations, 65% of the states local jurisdictions.[99] This climate declaration is not a declaration of a climate emergency but does mention urgent action on climate change the full document can be read here.[100] The Western Local Government area of the City of Perth is one of two capital city Local Government Areas that have not declared a climate emergency.
No external islands or territories of Australia have declared a climate emergency.
Jurisdiction | Declared a Climate Emergency | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | No | N/A | |
Christmas Island | No | N/A | |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | No | N/A | |
Coral Sea Islands | No | N/A | |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | No | N/A | |
Jervis Bay Territory | No | N/A | |
Heard Island and McDonald Islands | No | N/A | |
Norfolk Island | No | N/A |
In September 2013, the Australian Medical Association officially declared climate change a public health emergency.[113] The AMA noted that climate change will cause "higher mortality and morbidity from heat stress; injury and mortality from increasingly severe weather events; increases in the transmission of vector-borne diseases; food insecurity resulting from declines in agricultural outputs; [and] a higher incidence of mental-ill health."[113] The AMA has called on the Australian Government to adopt a carbon budget; reduce emissions; and transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, among other proposals to mitigate the health impacts of climate change.[113]