Is declaring a climate emergency such a good idea?

The Greens’ parliamentary motion this week asking Parliament to declare a “climate emergency” makes perfect sense as a political manoeuvre. It reinforces the Greens’ unambiguous position on the matter.

Illustration: Andrew Dyson

It wedges Labor, which is now so rent by its pro-climate-but-also-pro-coal message that it couldn’t even articulate a position on the “emergency” question.

And it provides another rhetorical barb to throw at the Morrison government, which this week revealed it had a Minister for Natural Disaster Management who – in the face of unseasonal fires raging in NSW and Queensland – simply doesn’t know and doesn’t even care about the role that climate change might be playing in causing such things. Meanwhile, Australia’s emissions continue to rise.

Read the story from The Age by Waleed Aly - “Is declaring a climate emergency such a good idea?”

SA councils split on "climate emergency" vote

Marion and Adelaide City councils have knocked back calls to declare a “climate emergency” in their local government areas, after some councillors argued ratepayers should not be slogged more to tackle climate change.

Students protest at state parliament as part of
a global school strike for climate change action.

Adelaide Hills and Light Regional councils, however, were successful at passing “climate emergency” motions last night – joining 12 councils across Australia, including Gawler Town Council, which previously passed such a motion, to sign up to a global movement calling for local government action on climate change.

At last night’s city council meeting, area councillor Robert Simms was unsuccessful at passing his full raft of climate proposals.

Read the story from Adelaide’s InDaily by Stephanie Richards - “SA councils split on "climate emergency" vote."