Northern Midlands Council becomes fourth council to declare climate emergency in Tasmania

Councillor Ian Goninon and mayor Mary Knowles raised the motion recommending the council declare a climate emergency at its meeting this month.

The motion was put forward after Cr Knowles was contacted by more than one ratepayer and many councillors were contacted by a prominent farmer on the issue.

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In addition to Campbell Town District Hight School students in grades 3,4,9 and 10 presenting at the Tasmanian Youth Climate Conference and asking questions of council.

The council voted to declare it and will prepare a climate emergency strategy and action plan, allocation in the midterm budget review to address it and will write to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Premier Peter Gutwein, the Local Government Association of Tasmania urging them to take action to the address the crisis.

In June 2019 Hobart City Council became the first in the state to declare an emergency, followed by Kingsborough Council in July 2019 and Launceston City Council in August 2019.

The Meander Valley Council were on track to becoming number four, but failed to declare one in December last year.

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Across Australia 95 councils have declared an emergency on behalf of more than eight million Australians.

The climate emergency declaration petition launched in Australia in May 2016 and since about 34 per cent of the population is represented by a council declaring a climate emergency.

Darebin City Council, in Victoria, were the first council to make a declaration in Australia and worldwide on December 5, 2016 and have since made a plan to address the issue.

Australia-based advocate group Climate Emergency Mobilisation are tracking the worldwide tally of councils declaring a climate emergency.