23 May 2008
Strathfield Council on World Environment Day (5 June) will celebrate the part it has played in reducing the impact of global warming through the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Australia Program.
World Environment Day aims to raise worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action.
Mayor Paul Barron said there a number of positive initiatives underway which demonstrate Council’s commitment to sustainability for the long-term social, economic and environmental benefit of our community.
“Earlier this month, Council commenced a trial of Biodiesel to power Council’s diesel fleet of vehicles in six various Works, Parks and Environmental Services’ vehicles including waste trucks helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Biodiesel has many great benefits, particularly in the reduction of greenhouse gases and pending the success of this trial, Council will investigate the feasibility changing more of its diesel powered vehicles to Biodiesel,
“Last year Council adopted the Strathfield Greenhouse Action Plan which will guide Council to reduce greenhouse gases by 50 per cent by 2015, and a 25 per cent reduction for the community by 2015. The Plan has successfully achieved Milestone 3 in the five-milestone program,”
“World Environment Day provides an opportunity for people around the world to join together in promoting awareness about environmental issues and how we can live more sustainably,” said Mayor Barron.
As a CCP participant, Strathfield Council is part of an international network of more than 800 local governments around the world dedicated to making environmental improvements at the local level.
Background: Cities for Climate Protection
CCP is an international campaign, delivered by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, which helps local governments and their communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the environment.
In Australia alone, 13.3 million tonnes of carbon emissions have been abated since the start of this local action push in 1997.
The CCP Australia Program is a partnership between ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability – Oceania (ICLEI Oceania) and the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
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