Ready to think globally, act locally

Great Lakes Advocate
Wednesday 14/2/2007 Page: 6

THINK globally, act locally has long been the mantra of the environmental movement. But now Great Lakes Council is also leading by example and tackling climate change head on with council managers not at the coal face, but rather the solar panel.

Council launched its Climate Change and GreenPower Education Program on Thursday which has been developed in conjunction with the NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability.

"The program will look at reducing council's greenhouse gas emissions, how energy is used in so many facets of our organisation and what can be done to improve, reduce and overcome it," Great Lakes mayor John Chadban said.

"The program will also explain to the community the importance of GreenPower options and discuss other ways in which they can play a part in reducing climate change by reducing their greenhouse emiscinnc " Cr Chadban said the $15,000 program would be implemented over the next six months and was funded by a $7500 grant from the NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability which has been matched by Great Lakes Council.

As part of the education campaign, council will soon send out a survey to homes and businesses across the local government area regarding climate change and the ways in which people feel they can do something in their community to combat the problem.

While climate change has been in the spotlight in recent days in both the Federal and State Election campaigns, the mayor said when it comes to thinking globally we should act locally.

"We have sat back for a long time waiting for the Federal Government and the State Government to take action on climate change, and for whatever reason you could say they have not really until now. "But we all need to play a role in combating and reducing climate change.

"We all have a responsibility of advancing and maintaining our environment. "We are delighted as a council to take one small step for mankind." Great Lakes Council's manager of natural systems, Gerard Tuckerman echoed the mayor's sentiments. "It is a small step, but it is an important step," Mr Tuckerman said. "Climate change is now proven, although depending upon what you read and who you listen to you could say it has been proven for some time now.

"Here in the Great Lakes we are already starting to see some of the signs of climate change and can expect to see even more like the sea level rising, an increase in temperatures and increases in runoff. "Individuals might feel that they are insignificant in all of this, but a lot of insignificant people together becomes a major force that can start a major change:' he said.