A decision by councillors to amend a notice of motion lodged by Labor's Giacomo Arnott at Tuesday night's council meeting has only hardened the resolve of Climate Action Port Stephens (CAPS) members who have vowed to push on for a declaration by Port Stephens for a state of climate emergency.
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In a show of strong and united community presence, about 30 CAPS members bearing signs stood outside Port Stephens Council's administration building before the February 25 meeting rallying in support for climate action.
Cr Arnott's hotly debated climate motion had proposed that the council recognise the state of climate and ecological crisis requiring urgent action; and to accelerate the development of a Climate Action Policy by making it a number one priority.
Despite the strong support from councillors John Nell and Jaimie Abbott, who declared climate change as "the greatest challenge of our time", the motion was defeated.
Councillors instead resolved to recognise that the climate in Australia is changing and that ongoing action is needed on climate change to ensure a sustainable future for Port Stephens; and to initiate the Climate Action Policy as a priority [as distinct from Cr Arnott's motion of a "number one priority"].
The amendment also reinforced the council's resolution from September 24, 2019, to engage with community and business for initiatives to reduce impact on climate change.
CAPS spokesperson Alisha Onslow said that members were left very disappointed about the outcome.
"CAPS has been campaigning for Port Stephens Council to declare a climate emergency since May 2019. We have 560 signatures of support on our petition for the council to declare a climate emergency, however this appeared to be irrelevant to some councillors," she said.
Ms Onslow said that members were encouraged by the comments made by councillors Arnott, Abbott and Nell, and remain hopeful that the council would eventually vote in support of a climate emergency.
"CAPS will continue to campaign while also focusing on the council elections coming up in September and will be looking for candidates who will support a climate emergency declaration," she said.
"The time for debate is over, the science is in. Dangerous climate change is here now, in Australia we are on the front lines of the climate emergency and we must act now to ensure a safe and habitable planet for all species for generations to come."
In addition to declaring a climate emergency, the CAPS petition calls on the council to commit to transitioning to 100 per cent renewable energy for council operations by 2025; and commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions for the community by 2040.
The council amendment also agreed to acknowledge and convey its condolences and support to all who have been affected by the 2019-2020 fires across Australia, and to acknowledge all the hard working firefighters and emergency services and the tremendous leadership shown by Commissioner Fitzsimmons.
In his report, Cr Arnott stated that from September 2019, approximately 5,200,000 hectares of land was burnt across the state, 25 people killed, 2176 homes, as well as 48 facilities and more than 2000 outbuildings, destroyed.
