Newcastle City Council passes fantastic resolution to protect the climate

Newcastle Council passed a series of important resolutions in November 2006 dealing with coal and climate change.

As a coal and climate change hot spot these Newcastle Council decisions demonstrate the potential leadership role of local governments in driving a policy shift for a transition from coal-based energy to renewable energy, while protecting the catchment in which the city is located from the impacts of large-scale expansion of open-cut mining. Climate Action Newcastle worked closely with the Lord Mayor, Green and Labour councillors in the lead up to the voting on the resolutions, and will continue to work with Council on follow-up.

While not all resolutions were passed unanimously, there was unanimous support for the establishment by the NSW Government of a contribution of 10c/tonne from coal exported from Newcastle to help fund local renewable energy initiatives as well as for increased support for public transport. Greens and Labour Councillors (with varying degrees of support from independent councillors) ensured other resolutions passed with comfortable majorities.

The resolutions passed follow: "Newcastle City Council recognises the urgent need to protect local and global environments from increasing greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce Newcastle's role in that increase. Therefore Newcastle City Council:

1. Recommends that the NSW Government establishes a cap on coal exports from Newcastle at existing levels.
2. Recommends that the NSW Government initiates an independent Inquiry into the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the current coal industry and proposed expansion of the Hunter Valley coal industry.
3. Recommends that pending such an Inquiry, the NSW Government initiates a moratorium on new coal mine approvals at Anvil Hill and elsewhere in NSW.
4. Calls on the NSW and Federal Governments to establish a mandatory renewable energy target of 25% by 2020, with 20% by 2014 as a first step, in keeping with targets set by the South Australian Government.
5. Calls on the NSW Government to establish a contribution of 10c/tonne on coal exports through the Port of Newcastle to fund a community trust to be administered through Hunter Councils, to support a transition to a clean energy economy in the Hunter and to invest in local renewable energy projects.
6. Calls on the NSW Government to build a more efficient public transport system in the Hunter, linking major regional cities defined in the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy.