City of Bunbury set to sign WA Local Government Association climate change declaration

The City of Bunbury will join forces with other local governments across the State in declaring its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint in a bid to slow the impacts of climate change. The City will become Western Australia’s 41st local government to sign the declaration, which represents more than 65 per cent of the State. The declaration, first established in 2018, makes four acknowledgements, including that “climate change is occurring” and that it “threatens human societies” and “urgent action is required to reduce emissions”. Cr Amanda Yip made an impassioned plea for the motion to be approved when the council met for the first time this year on Wednesday, claiming that not signing the declaration would “place an unfair burden on future generations”. “It is an important step we can take … it gives our staff a way forward,” she said. Cr Ben Andrew, who moved the motion, said the phenomenon held “a real risk for the City” because of its coastal nature and that “the science is clear”. The council voted 12-1 to sign the declaration.