Leaders Snapshots – 2009 Archive

Saturday 19 December 2009

Did the world benefit from the COP15 and did Copenhagen cope?

As I write this on Saturday morning, the Copenhagen Accord, supported by the US, China, India, Brazil, South Africa and 20 other nations, including Australia, has been noted and not agreed to by the COP15.

So the view that has been gathering pace all week that 'best no agreement than a bad one' has partially won out. So how many COPs will it take to save the planet? It does seem that COP15 has been beset by entrenched national agendas, grandstanding and a lack of recognition of the science.

Copenhagen did not cope well with the COP. This is not to lay blame at the City or the Danish Government but certainly there is something rotten in the state of Denmark when many thousands of accredited delegates from around the world are excluded from an event that they were invited to attend. It was publicity blitz that portrayed the wonderful Copenhagen that we all aspire and then to find a Copenhagen that could not cope due to obstacles and barriers put in its way.

So what of the UN Secretariat? They seemed to be the nub of the problems that were created. But it is always hard to know where blame lies at such international events as there are so many interlocking players – but certainly there needs to be an evaluation of the COP concept and why it failed to be delivered at COP15. The COPs could well become the Olympics of Climate Change!

There is no doubt that the concept of having a broad church of world interests gather to determine the future of the planet is commendable. Having government, non-government (goodness knows how local government manages to get that badge) and civil society together as both actors and observers should provide the environment for engagement, reporting and the outcome sought.

However the inability of the UN to put a limit on the registrations (up to 45,000 according to some reports) despite the 15,000 limit on the Bella Centre, together with the failure to structure COP side events outside the COP precinct, was a recipe for the chaos and the frustration that took place in week 2.

In the COPs I have previously attended in both Bali and Poznan the numbers were kept within the reach the venue and the side events were located outside the COP precinct allowing a fertile mix of delegates and locals.

From the Guardian.co.uk:

'The UN climate summit reached a weak outline of a global agreement last night in Copenhagen, falling far short of what Britain and many poor countries were seeking and leaving months of tough negotiations to come.

After eight draft texts and all-day talks between 115 world leaders, it was left to Barack Obama and Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier, to broker a political agreement. The so-called Copenhagen accord "recognises" the scientific case for keeping temperature rises to no more than 2C but did not contain commitments to emissions reductions to achieve that goal.

American officials spun the deal as a "meaningful agreement", but even Obama said: "This progress is not enough."

"We have come a long way, but we have much further to go," he added.

The deal was brokered between China, South Africa, India, Brazil and the US, but late last night it was still unclear whether it would be adopted by all 192 countries in the full plenary session.

The agreement aims to provide $30bn in funding for poor countries to adapt to climate change from next year to 2012, and $100bn a year after 2020."

Friday 18 December 2009

Yesterday saw the almost total closure of the COP to those with Observer Status. For ICLEI’s 1200 delegates this meant that only 18 LG delegates and for NGOs only 300 could attend the COP. That is 300 of the 21,000 registered NGOs or 1.4%!

The concept of the COP being a melting pot of government, NGO and civil society has certainly not been evident here in Copenhagen. Our ability therefore to 'observe' the final throw of the dice in the quest to achieve an international binding agreement on climate change has depended on texting, blogs, video links and word of mouth. The debates on the future of the Kyoto Protocol and the other track of this COP, the Long-Term Cooperative Action under the Convention (LAC), will now be up to our national leaders in the sanctity of the Bella Centre.

Yesterday was also the day on which the snow fell in enough quantity to at times gridlock the trains and buses. I awoke to a white wait at the bus stop by name only. The buses had been thrown out by the snow. Later in the day whilst waiting for a train, a commuter Dane told me that 'snow always comes as a shock to the city'. Maybe this is a metaphor for climate change!

The day eventually started with the bus ride to Malmo Railway Station but here again by name only as train after train was cancelled as passenger numbers built. Eventually a train did depart for the impressive bridge journey to Copenhagen. This time no side trip to the Bella Centre that was certainly by name only and instead onto Copenhagen to experience people day!

During the course of the COP at the Bella Centre, delegates and representatives of NGOs and civil society have been playing out their own views, news and positions on climate change and how they need to respond.

The NGO Pavilion, whilst lacking the over-the-top numbers at the Bella Centre, was certainly the place to go to view the Plenary Sessions that were being beamed from the Bella Centre with national leaders speaking in 5 minute stints on their position on climate change and their support for an agreement.

The next stop was Klimaforum99 in a pavilion 2 station stops from the Bella Centre but worlds apart in its approach to climate change. The only restriction to entry was a very busy revolving door; no pass, no double pass or as at the Bella Centre a triple pass. The atmosphere was enthusiastic, purposeful, collaborative and participatory. The session I sat through featured and was chaired by George Monbiot. Monbiot is a British writer well known for his environmental and political activism. He writes a weekly column for The Guardian.  

Following presentations Monbiot posed 5 questions on the issues confronting us all including whether a bad agreement was better than no agreement at all. Archbishop TuTu was on record following the march on Sunday as saying that no agreement was better than a bad one. The roving microphone moved great distances across the meeting hall and across many continents and countries with a cross section of views.

I commented that despite what came out of the COP that civil society, NGOs and city governments needed to continue to provide the leadership and take actions with or without an agreement. It was a stirring and informative engagement. Monbiet moved through the questions with a diversity and considered views being aired. Meanwhile back at the Bella Centre the national leaders took to the podium as behind the scenes frantic negotiations were no doubt taking place.

And in the city, the streets and hotel rooms were being filled with leaders from around the world and the level of security was causing gridlock across the city. Trains were under increasing pressure given that the city had informed citizens not to drive into the city. The result was that the numbers using the trains together with the overseas visitors was far too much for even the Danes and Swedes to handle. The train was filled to overflowing and as a result the doors were not closed in a manner that tipped the signal to depart. The train waited and waited and filled and filled to overflowing. The problem grew. The scene was chaotic but passengers remained calm and friendly. A black man implored me to make a space for him. Whilst a slight man he had with him an oversized case and guitar. He needed to get to the airport to go home. I drew breath and found space for him to hide. We all departed joking about how in a city renowned for its liveability and mobility that it could come to this. Perhaps another metaphor on climate change.

Tonight on television I watched the official welcome to national leaders hosted by the Queen of Denmark in the Palace. Choir boys sang and speeches were made. Ban Ki-Moon thanked the Queen and called on leaders to come to an agreement. One just hoped that they would not stay too long in these palatial surroundings and go back to work. In fact perhaps a working dinner should have been the order of the day to break the gridlock of negotiations for the planet.

Tuesday 15 December 2009

I set out today with my secondary pass now required for entry to the Bella Centre. For those who had not been accredited there was no doubt that the COP time was up. I hit the train with many other non-Swedish speaking people (Swedish is surely the second language during the COP) for the Bella Centre. All seemed to be smooth running until I overheard some voices behind me say that the Bella Centre Station had been closed due to… the rest was mumbled.

I inquired politely about the news they had heard and was informed that demonstrators had struck (I think in hindsight it was observers wanting to access the Centre) and that they were going to go on to Copenhagen Central Station and access the Centre via Sondby, the Metro station to the north. I was impressed by their geography and they looked as if they had done all this before. I eventually discerned that they were students from Hong Kong University and their student 'leader', a Swede now studying in Hong Kong, had an air of experience with a business card titled ‘whattookyousolong Foundation'. So without hesitation I joined them in the quest to enter the Bella Centre.

However whilst their general geography was OK their knowledge of the train network was less impressive and we wandered Central Station in a flurried sort of way asking anyone and everyone in sight how to get to Sondby. Maybe it was their accent but it seemed that we were asking for something either novel or maybe rude. At last we found a confidant and headed for the platform and the train. This train was non-Danish speaking and I suspected that others were also attempting their entry to the Bella Centre via the north.

Of course nothing is simple at a COP so as we neared Sondby the carriage was informed that the Bella Centre Station was now open for business. What a relief! Well I was soon to discover that whilst the station was truly open the entry to the Bella Centre was a sea of faces and barred by very large Politi. And I realised that the crowd was actually a very erratic queue. Furthermore it was a queue that stretched beyond what the eye could see and judging by some of the frustration that was flowing over the queue and the Politi response, which seemed to me rather excessive, I decided that the train was the best place to be and got on one heading back to Malmo.

But the quest had got to me and I was now susceptible to other offers to get into the Bella Centre. The next offer came quickly for as I waited for the train to Malmo in another overheard conversation of 3 delegates deduced that the COP15 bus from the Copenhagen airport was the way to get in as it actually entered the Bella Centre grounds and entry was therefore that much easier. So I alighted the train and headed for the airport bus rank and took up line with others who had just arrived by air.

The bus arrived and we wound our way through suburbs and headed toward the Bella Centre easily identified by a single wind turbine on the skyline. All seemed to be going quite well until the bus stopped and we were informed that this was the Bella Centre. For me this was not the Bella Centre; it was the Bella Centre Station. And so after 3 hours I had ended up back in amongst the same chaotic queue. It had been a most fascinating journey of meetings and greetings but it was time to call it a COP. I re-joined the bus and headed for Copenhagen City for a well-earned coffee and danish pastry.

Monday 14 December 2009

Some rightly say that if you cannot organise a COP how can we organise the planet!

A 9-hour wait in the registration queue may be the tip of the iceberg (and there is no provision for waiting indoors at the COP) but this belies the serious and inexcusable inefficiencies of the administration of this COP by the IN Secretariat.

Yes there are security issues and the Bella Centre reputedly only holds 15,000 so why were there 35 to 40,000 registrations given out? For delegates who have come from around the world to observe and participate in events and presentations, this has been a diabolical experience.

Given that, there is a sense of acceptance inside the Centre as those able to get inside go about their meetings, greetings and communications with the outside world. But we are here to have signed off an agreement and that needs to be the focus now of political leaders from around the world. The problem is that negotiations have entered the phase of standoffs, and counter-points and the brackets only surface to ensure that the best laid plans can be watered down with a word here and a word there.

On the upside the Bella Centre is a village – a global village no less – with people from every corner of the world waiting for a seat, a plate and a role in what should and needs to be a momentous meeting of countries. And you meet people who you seldom, if ever, meet in a walk down Collins Street – but more of that latter!

Monday 14 December 2009

The helicopter buzzes overhead and the queues are buzzing with frustration as the Bella Centre enters its second COP week. And what a week this will be as the political leaders enter the foray and try to right a very leaky and unstable COP.

The COPaos continues with the nearby metro station being closed and the queues stretching for a one to two hour wait for those seeking accreditation.  Meanwhile in the ICLEI Lounge the debrief at 8.30am was circumspect about the likelihood of having reference to local government in the text.

This is falling between the widening cracks as the political leaders take the reigns and attempt to get the COP back on track for a political agreement that can move the planet forward. Holding one’s breath would not be advised given the issues to be resolved.

Wednesday 9 December 2009

Yesterday at the COP was one of leaks, intrigue and some sense of retribution as it became known that there was the 'Danish Text'. Not that Denmark was the sole instigator of a nine-page document but where it happens does then provide a convenient tag line.

Whilst the content was somewhat out of step with an Accord drafted by Brazil, South Africa, India and China it was the fact that it had been secretly hatched that raised the ire of many developing countries. But it also failed to provide the substantial financing required for their adaptation efforts.

The division between rich and poor countries is starkly revealed in the exhibition spaces provided by, for example, the EU and the USA compared to the offices of, say, the G77 developing countries.

The 'walkout' talk is not without precedent, as at the pre-COP in Barcelona this in fact happened. There is no doubt that the presentations in the Plenary sessions by those from developing countries have been somewhat strident, perhaps realising that this is their big – or maybe last – chance to get the developed world to set meaningful scientific targets and set up financing arrangements that will assist those in most need to limit the impact of climate change over the next decade.

In the words of Mr D-Aping from the Sudan, 'Ten billions dollars will not buy developing countries' citizens enough coffins'. 

Tuesday 8 December 2009

Yesterday was the COP15 Opening Ceremony where the message from the Mayor of Copenhagen, Ritt Bjerregard, was 'COP15 needed to go very far, very fast'. She also placed an emphasis on the important and integral role of city governments. At the Australian Delegation Briefing in the afternoon there was certainly a cautious but positive view pervading the session.

This is a daily half hour session for reporting back on developments from the Australian Government’s point of view with the Ambassador for Climate Change, Louise Hand, chairing and providing the briefing. The COP, she said, had been given 'oxygen' by recent events, including the Copenhagen Accord involving PMs Rasmussen and Rudd, the US target, the COHGM Summit, APEC, Obama’s decision to play his card on the final day and China and India’s entry into the discourse on targets.

Of course there is a long way to go, well 13 days to be exact, but nevertheless there seems to me to be some real impetus. Maybe the controversy surrounding those 'leaks' has hardened the resolve of the negotiators.

The ICLEI Lounge is well located and has a full program of briefings, meetings with national delegations and presentations on key COP themes. Today we have our meeting with representatives from the Australian Delegation. President Cadman and Cr Cathy Oke will chair and provide the discussion points for the meeting.

We can be assured that the international views and positions taken by ICLEI will be reflected in our national and local needs and interests. In a question to Louise Hand yesterday I asked if the Australian Government’s support for the inclusion of local government in the Shared Vision text was ongoing. She said it was!

Monday 7 December 2009

The buzz is palpable! The Bella Centre will be home to the debates, discussion and hopes of a global community looking for strategic direction and commitment from nations around the world to tackle climate change.

Whilst the debates back home focus on the parochial at times, the COPs bring the national into global focus and work to achieve consensus on the need to take urgent action and then the more important steps to reduce our carbon footprints. There are 21,000 delegates with the usual teething and security issues to contend.

Yesterday the Bella Centre was in shut down mode with a security alert. Such is the attention being given to the COP and its outcomes. And media is at saturation here in Copenhagen and Malmo across the bridge. The papers scream 'controversy’ and play on national and scientific divisions. The pressure is on all who enter the Bella Centre be they government, NGOs or civil society delegates and the scientific community.

The first of daily ICLEI Briefings at 8.00 am kicked off with a summation of where we are at in relation to the four key themes of the COP – shared vision, mitigation, adaptation, and financing and capacity building. We are on the final journey to place city and local government as a partner in responding to climate change.

The diversity of views and positions is such that it will be a close call but if we can achieve a status in the 'shared vision', which may well be the outcome of the COP itself, we will be well placed through to COP16 in Mexico City to make gains in the other themes.

Friday 6 November 2009

Last night after booking into the hotel in downtown Kaohsiung we ate at a restaurant down on the harbour. Best described as a ‘Budda Bar’ type style we ate with a number of NGO representatives who are working closely with the city on climate change and environmental issues and opportunities. It is a mutually advantageous partnership that I would learn more about over the next days. The meal was exciting and exhausting a gastronomy of tastes and styles all things Chinese and Taiwanese. During the meal Mayor Chi Chen arrived and I had a brief meeting but one that indicated here was a woman who was determined to make a difference and turn the city into more than a harbour industrial city. 

This morning was the Forum with a presentation from myself along with the City and an NGO representative on the work of the city to realise its vision – ‘blue sky, clean water and low carbon’. The Forum had in attendance around 80 City elected representatives, staff and NGOs. The presentation from the City provided an overview of the City’s vision and covered the City’s recycling program, greening, low carbon, cycling and fuel switch.

Following the presentation there was a Panel with City and NGO representatives and a range of questions and discussion followed sometimes fairly passionate and concerned at the need for more work to be done. It was a lively and informative forum. Lunch followed with the City staff and then off to City Hall for a meeting with Mayor Chi Chen and media. The Mayor is a champion of the City and its vision! She spoke eloquently of the City’s plans and also the interest in hosting an ICLEI office in the City. She was persuasive and certainly passionate. I responded and hopefully was the same!

Leaving City Hall we headed for Tainan City, an hour's drive and a meeting with the Mayor. The freeway was efficient but we arrived 20 minutes late. The Mayor Tain-Tsair Hsu and the Head of the EPA, Madame Chang Hwang Jen were waiting and we immediately fell into an interesting array of topics with lively discussion.

Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan and has much to offer historically. It too has a vision to be sustainable and a low carbon city. The meeting with Mayor Tain-Tsair Hse included many photos, including one that I was presented with on leaving with the Head of the EPA for dinner.

During the meeting at 5.32pm a tremor occurred which moved the room and the painting swung for some 60 seconds or more on the wall right before my very eyes. The Mayor was relaxed and asked if I had felt the tremor. Taiwanese are not new to such occurrences; the earthquake in 1995 killed several thousand people so there is some trepidation.

Late in the evening on the 37th floor of a hotel restaurant in the City with Madame Jen and City staff the tremor again occurred this time swaying the building in quite an elegant and significant fashion! Again my host remained relaxed though other tables did express some alert! Next morning I read that the earthquake was centred in the middle of the island and registered a 6.3. The fast train ceased to operate for an hour-and-a-half for safety reasons. I arrived back at the hotel in Kaoshiung ready for my last day in Taiwan.

Wednesday 4 November 2009

Lat night we had dinner with the Governor of Taipei County Council and staff. The Governor was a member of the National Congress and comes to the County with both political networks and a commitment and a passion to build a sustainable county. I think he will!

The workshop held this morning at the Taipei City Council building was attended by staff from the City and the Taipei County along with representatives from a number of NGOs. The workshop program include presentations from myself and the City and the County on the work undertaken in response to climate change. I was impressed! Inventories, goals, plans and actions were very much a part of the strategic approach adopted by both City and County with strong political leadership and commitment. The range of activities included transport, energy and waste initiatives along with education programs and management that was of a high promotional calibre. Following the presentations there was much questioning and discussion. Even the eating of meat was raised as a greenhouse issue. I left the workshop after 3 hours impressed with the experience, knowledge and commitment in the room.

A short walk from the City Hall to lunch was interrupted by a bicycle ride! The City has a green bicycle program that I could not but have a go. The system was simple, secure and tempting so I had a ride to the delight of the on lookers. And no helmets… maybe we need to give some ground for the use of such bicycles in our CBDs! The lunch was with the Deputy Secretary General of the City Chen Yeong Ren and staff from the City plus representatives from the Foundation of Taiwan Industry Services. It was a lunch cluttered with information, humour and a range of Cantonese dishes… is there an end to this menu! Following the lunch we were whisked back to the hotel for an interview with a popular environmental magazine, Global Views Monthly, that is featuring climate change in its December issue.

The off to the EPA to meet the Minister for for Environment (and Climate Change) Stephen Shu-Hung Shen. This was a most engaging meeting discussion of a range of topics from the COP to a cleaning up program at the neighourhood level in which the Minister takes great delight in participating. In fact this is certainly a Minister that liked the top job and the grassroots work. We discussed the Government’s positioning in relation to the COP (not being a member of the UN there is only a sideline view to be played) but a strong commitment to the work of cities on taking on the mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

Form there we rushed to the central railway station for the fast train to Kaohsiung City a trip of 400 kms in an hour and a half. It was a most comfortable and relaxing ride before stepping off the train into a new city.  

Tuesday 3 November 2009

The GMF Press Conference in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Hong Kong  commenced at 2.00pm and concluded following presentations and questions at 4.00pm. It was attended by a range of media outlets in Hong Kong along with representatives of city governments who later in the proceedings signed on to be delegates at the Forum. Also attending were a number of consulate officials.

Presentations were provided by the Chair and Secretary General of the GMF Council along with Bernadi Tjandradewi, Harry Verhaar and myself. Details of the Press Conference and the presentations will be available shortly on the GMF website. In the meantime you may wish to read my presentation:

"We are today living on an urbanised and globalised planet. We are also living in challenging and changing times and a commitment to sustainable growth needs to be at the core of our response to the needs of our urban populations and the challenge of our time, climate change. In fact, the response to climate change rests on our capacity to create sustainable cities and thus an enduring planet. Cities will be the key to our future as we grapple with the cause and effect of climate change and secure our energy, water and food needs for future generations.

The 2010 Global Mayors Forum to take place in Hong Kong and Shenzen from November 5 to 8 has as its theme ‘High Growth Cities: Meeting the Challenges for Sustainability’. The Forum will bring together city leaders from around the world to share their experiences, their knowledge and their political will to make a difference.

On behalf of the President of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, Cr David Cadman, City of Vancouver, and Secretary General Konrad Otto Zimmerman I commend the International Mayors Communication Centre for this initiative and welcome the opportunity to be a partner organisation in the Global Mayors Forum".

Read on... [PDF, 105 KB]

Monday 2 November 2009

The Second GMF Council commenced at 9.30am and concluded at 5.30pm with a full agenda and discussion. Following brief introductions from those present including Dr Carl Men Ky Ching, Chairman, IMCC and President of United World Chinese Association Ms Jin Lan Executive Chairman of the IMCC, Dr Bernadia Tjandradewi, CityNet and Harry Verhar, World Business Council for Sustainable Development. There was an apology from Dr Nola-Kate Seymoar, International Centre for Sustainable Cities.

The meeting adopted the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure at the First Council Meeting in April 2008 and discussed a work plan leading up to the Forum in November 2010.

Following lunch the meeting got down to reviewing the draft program for the Forum and discussed both the Plenary sessions and speakers, the Parallel, sessions (10 following the Melbourne principle) and the High Dialogue session. The program will be finalised over the coming weeks.

Today we head to Hong Kong for the GMF Press Conference.

Wednesday June 23, 2009

The ICLEI Oceania 'Step Up' Recognition and Briefing Breakfast at the ALGA Assembly on Monday morning was attended by 150 councils delegates and speakers. As one delegate remarked to me as he entered the room, 'You can certainly pull a crowd!' The event recognised those councils that had achieved milestones in the CCP program and Water Campaign.

The 'elephant in the room' was undoubtedly the decision of the Australian Government to cease their funding support for the CCP program on June 30. Delegates were informed of the need to build on the 12 year legacy of our work on climate change and participate in the recently announced CCP Partners program, focused on high level political and management support. Speakers included Mayor Felicity-Ann Lewis, City of Marion; Mayor Glenys Godfrey, City of Belmont; Deputy Mayor Morris Mansour, Ashfield Council; and Mayor Tony Allen, Shire of Bega Valley.

Each spoke of their commitment and work undertaken in the CCP program dating from 1997 to 2009. The 49 recognition awards were presented by the President of ALGA, Cr Geoff Lake, who also welcomed delegates to the event and committed ALGA's support to ICLEI and local government in their climate action work.

The event concluded with the launch of the Cities for Safe and Healthy Communities by Police Commissioner Mick Keelty, Deputy Chair, Australian National Council on Drugs. Commissioner Keelty provided both an international and local perspective on drug and alcohol harm minimisation. He recognised the role of local government in being part of the solution and in particular to alcohol abuse. He strongly supported the CSHC program and its strategic and integrated approach to the problem.

The work of the 20 Foundation Councils of the CSHC and in particular the City of Brisbane and its CEO, Jude Munro, was recognised along with the Council of the Capital City Lord Mayors and the National Local Government Drug and Alcohol Advisory Committee. The testimonial provided by Lydia Wilson, City of Manningham, a founding member, highlighted the practical and outcome driven approach of the CSHC program.

Mayor Ivan Brooks closed the event with a summation of the important work of the Australasian Mayors Council for Climate Protection to ensure local government was in the public policy picture of both Federal and State governments into the future. He called on support for the work of ICLEI Oceania over the coming months and years.

Monday 1 June 2009

...there is lots of good will out there to keep on keeping on!

Over the past 3 weeks I have travelled to Adelaide (South Australian CCP Forum) to Darwin (LGMA Congress ICLEI Oceania Briefing Breakfast) and to Bendigo (CCP Victoria Rural Program Recognition) and the feedback at the Government’s decision to cease funding of CCP on 30 June, has ranged from sympathy to expressions of shock but importantly a preparedness to maintain a commitment to CCP as an alliance of councils working on climate change action.
 
The good news is that the CCP Partners program that has been relayed to mayors, CEOs and General Managers throughout the country has been well received, although there has been some confusion as to the impact on ICLEI Oceania.

As many of you will be aware, ICLEI as an international movement of local governments and their associations is a voice for the sector internationally and regionally through offices around the world. ICLEI Oceania will continue its work with local governments across Australia, New Zealand and support projects in the Asia-Pacific region that focus on the unique and underpinning role of local government to act locally on global sustainability initiatives.

And there are of course questions of what will CCP Partners do for my council and how can we maintain the effort and actions we have been making through the program and technical support we have in the past offered?

The simple answer is that we will be working with senior management and elected representatives to ensure that the gains are built upon and policy settings, resourcing and advocacy is increased over the coming year with ICLEI’s support.

Wayne Wescott and I will be working with the councils who sign up to ensure that the best advice, the most accessible and useful information and the direction for councils to take up is conveyed to the senior management and political level of council.

And despite the decision to cease CCP funding we are still considered to be a major player in local government’s capacity and readiness to respond to the public policy directions set by the Federal Government and the application of the Climate Change Action Fund to be announced later in the year.

Tuesday 3 February 2009

They say records are to be broken and as I leave Albury today on the banks of the Murray River the temperature will again soar above 40 degrees. The growing view is however that the record will become the norm and predictions for the Murray Riverina region include a hotter climate by 3- to 5 degrees, drier winters, spring, autumn up to 50% reduced run off and changed catchment flows and increased risk of fire, flooding and soil erosion.

The Albury City Council approach to climate change and its work with ICLEI on the Cities for Climate Protection is to take a whole-of-council and community strategic approach.

Its approach is also to put all cards on the table in the final analysis of the options available to council in order to find the most effective and practical projects and programs to achieve its sustainability agenda. The Sustainability Strategy has 8 themes, one of which is Energy and Greenhouse Gas (EGG). The establishment of Community of Practice committees or COPs (sounds familiar?) for each of the 8 themes with council staff and community members as participants provide the ground work for deliberations and decision making at more senior levels and then onto Council.

The EGGCOP has been working on gathering data as well as laying out potential projects that would impact on reducing Council’s greenhouse gas emissions and building a more energy and renewable efficient community.

The day started with a workshop involving some 18 participants drawn from across the council together with some community members. It was an opportunity to be briefed on the councils work and to provide information on how CCP would add value to the work of council on climate change. A brief break and then into a meeting with the General Manager and Directors to present on the CCP program and discuss a range of issues and opportunities already identified in our partnership.

The evening was an opportunity to brief the Council at a full public meeting on the CCP program. It was a hot and hectic day… hopefully we can work to take the heat out of the days ahead.

Monday 12 January 2009

A week in Berlin was hardly a reminder of global warming... but then climate change is about extremes and the weather through northern and central Europe has been described over the past week as extreme!

With temperatures hovering between minus 13 and minus 4 it was a challenge to take to the streets and neighbourhoods of this diverse and exciting city.

It is a city that exudes an urban character and style that is its most attractive quality; its historic and contemporary buildings, its lively art scene, its public art galleries with their extensive exhibitions, its cafes and bars, its wide sidewalks, its apartment living, its trams, trains and buses (no advertising!), its lively and efficient U-Bahn... its earthiness!

From here to Hong Kong to thaw and take in the largest emporium in the world and home. 2009 will be another year to excite and challenge and hopefully deliver the outcomes needed in a world that enrages and engages.

Postscript: It is good to see a new entry in the ICLEI Blog scene... welcome Steve Gawler who will blog us from his 'home' in Jakarta.

You may be interested in listening to the presentation I provided on the Indonesian Resilient Cities Network Project at the ICLEI Local Government Climate Sessions in Poznan last year.