Councillors opposed to recognising the climate emergency had a significant victory at Knox Council on Monday night (28th October 2019), when they succeeded in stopping Knox Council acknowledging a climate emergency.

The vote followed a very impressive campaign undertaken by the local community, which included the collection of 1000s of signatures supporting the acknowledgement. Around one hundred from the campaign attended the council meeting.

The original motion proposed by Cr John Mortimore in response to pressure from local climate emergency activists included the statement “we are in a state of climate and environmental emergency” but this was removed.

Instead a highly amended proposal was presented on the night. One Councillor, Cr Adam Gill, questioned the legitimacy of the change given the lateness. The Mayor claimed this had been done to ensure a unanimous vote.

​The short term victory of those councillors opposing emergency action was complete with no single councillor voting against the removal of the recognition of the climate emergency. However, campaign has positioned the climate emergency as a central topic for the council elections in 2020 and those opposing councillors won the battle but may yet 'lose the war'. 

Adrian Whitehead of CACE attended the Southwest Climate Action Forum (Thursday 22 October) in Warrnambool run by Geoff Rollinson of Southwest Climate Action. The Forum was attended by over 70 community members, who presented a wide range of campaigning ideas ranging from getting climate friendly members elected to local council, encouraging local dairy farmers to reduce their emissions, and transitioning the Portland Alcoa aluminium smelter to 100% renewables or shutting it down. Both the City of Warrnambool and Moyne Shire have passed motions recognising the climate emergency. 

CACE's Adrian Whitehead joined local campaign organiser Kitty Walker, in a meeting  with Queenscliffe's Mayor Bob Merriman and new CEO Martin Gill, to discuss the upcoming community meeting about the climate crisis and how Queenscliffe could play are role in responding to it.

Queensc​liffe Borough is a unique local government in Australia, being the only borough and servicing a population of around  2700 (2016 census figure).  


Queenscliffe and surrounding areas will also be drastically affected by climate change, in particular from sea level rise and coastal inundation, making it, as we call them, one of the Atlantis councils who will loose some or all of their land under future sea level rise.

The conversation was wide ranging and positive, heralding a good start for community involvement in the Borough's climate response. 

Please come doe the communty meeting at Pt Lonsdale on Wednesday the 30th. Details below.

As featured in the Colac Heard  7 Oct 19....
"YOUNG LEADERS: Colac Otway Shire schoolchildren joined residents calling for action at a climate and biodiversity emergency meeting in Colac yesterday. Rhani Adams, Piyali Beale, Teararatai Horo and Rose Gitting stood up at the meeting and urged community leaders to acknowledge a state of climate emergency. Read more about the meeting and a petition to Colac Otway Shire Council in Wednesday's Colac Herald. "

​Click for more....

Adrian Whitehead from CACE was a key speaker at a community event held in Colac on Sunday  the 6th of October. The events was organised by local community members and was attended by more than 50 residents.  

The event featured two great speeches from local school children Rhani Adams and Rose Gitting how expressed their concern for their futures and the lack of effort by adults to save them.

Cr Steven Hart spoke about what Colac Otway  Shire had done and was not doing in this space and the meeting was attended by Cr Brain Crook. 

The event launched local petition for Colac Otway Shire to acknowledge that we are in a climate emergency and commit to stronger action. The petition is available in hard cop locally and closes on January the 28th.

People wishing to get involved in this campaign can contact Marina via her email at ​lewisandlongmore@netspace.net.au

Many councils that declare a climate emergency want a detailed guide to how to proceed post declaration.  The CACE website has been breaking down in more detail some of the areas that councils want spelled out in more detail with pages, under 'A Guide for Councils' now including:
-Motions to declare a climate emergency
-Your climate emergency plan
-Entering emergency mode
-Post declaration
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More detail will be added to these pages over time but the fundamental framework is there for councils to mobilise, which was the original intent of the climate emergency declarations. 
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Nicole and Harry, both studying for a Bachelor of Environment and Society at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, are undertaking internships at CACE toward their qualification. Their work with be added to the 'Post-declaration nuts and bolts clearinghouse'. Nicole will focus on gathering examples of low-cost programs and polices the council can adopt toward its climate emergency response and Harry will focus on council for models for facilitating energy efficient building retrofits.

As of 1 July 2019, 719 councils across 16 countries have declared a climate emergency. With the first to declare in December 2016, the number of councils that has declared has doubled in the past four months, as made available in the global list managed by CEDAMIA.

Moreover the New York City has declared and a number of nations have joined including Canada. This upward momentum to central governments was a goal when the council climate emergency campaign was first developed. 

CACE is seeking partners international to lead CACE campaigns in their own countries. Activities would include but not be limited to:

• help facilitate development of a climate emergency declaration tool for your country
• translate relevant documents into your language
• engage councillors 
• help build community campaigns.

Please contact CACE to learn more.