We are calling on the Moreton Bay Regional Council to :

1. Declare a climate emergency by February, 2023, and join more than 100 other jurisdictions across Australia that have already done so to stimulate strong climate action.

2. Set a target of net zero emissions to be achieved no later than 2030.

3. Directly engage the community in planning to reduce emissions to meet this target.

Declaring a climate emergency would:

*Show that the actions taken by Moreton Bay Regional Council are more than box ticking.

*Show leadership in declaring the climate emergency for what it is.

*Indicate a clear sense of urgency and invoke a powerful call to action

 *Demonstrate a concrete commitment, a willingness to stand together and fight to prevent the largest threat of our times.

Why Is This Important?

Over 100 councils from around Australia have already taken the step of declaring a climate emergency including Noosa Regional Council which declared a climate emergency in 2019 with a target of net zero emissions by 2026, and Sunshine Coast Council recognizing a state of  climate emergency and the need for stronger action in November 2021. Moreton Bay Regional Council does not have a target for reaching net zero emissions and there is no mention of climate change on the council’s home page.

We are deeply concerned that council is more influenced by large polluting companies and by short term financial gain, than by the findings of scientists who advise that we must act now to mitigate climate destruction. 

Council has an important role in providing leadership to build resilience to climate change and support projects that reduce emissions. The Council accepts that climate change is a serious issue and has declared its intention to implement a number of policies and actions to address this. However, these don’t go far enough and fast enough to prevent our community being overwhelmed by catastrophic impacts to our natural, built, and socio-economic environments.

The latest climate poll from the Australian Conservation Council shows that an average of over 77% of residents in the Moreton Bay Regional Council area believe greater climate action will help nature and wildlife survive extreme weather.

One of the key findings from the 2021 Australian Local Government Climate Review conducted by Local Governments for Sustainability and Ironbark Sustainability was that 83% of responding councils reported that climate change had already impacted their local community or council operations.

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released in August, 2021 concludes that more drastic action must be taken now to avert catastrophic irreversible damage to our world.

More than 60 per cent of Australians agree with the sentiment that "Global warming is a serious and pressing problem” with 71% believing that Australia should be a world leader in addressing climate change.

We need to  act now .

Mayor Flannery and councillors, you have a responsibility to represent all constituents, particularly vulnerable groups, and you have a governmental duty of care for those who are too young to vote and to those yet to be born. 

We implore you to listen to us, your constituents. 

We believe in finding common ground and in working towards sensible, ethical solutions.

Save us from a climate crisis, before it’s too late.

Declare a climate emergency, today.