This evening I was invited to speak with the Maroondah Climate Change Action Group to discuss climate change and the need for ongoing action at a local level to reduce greenhouse emissions.

The continued growth of the Maroondah Climate Change Action Group demonstrates that the community is increasingly concerned about greenhouse emissions and the need for action. Priorities for the group include the need to set goals to achieve carbon neutrality so as to reduce greenhouse emissions within both council and the wider community.

I also discussed the need for improvements in public transport to provide transport choice for residents and thus reduce emissions caused by transport, which contribute up to half of a household’s emissions. The transport sector is the fastest growing sector of greenhouse emissions nationwide and Federal leadership is required in regard to urban transport if there is any hope of achieving serious greenhouse reduction targets by 2020.

Issues like climate change require ongoing Federal, State and Local initiatives and it is imperative that all levels of government commit to improving our urban sustainability.