Lane Cove Sustainability Groups Show Their Support for Zali Steggall’s Climate Change Act

With Lane Cove Council recently joining other Australian Local Councils in declaring a climate change emergency, local sustainability groups have come out in support of Zali Steggall’s Climate Change Act by signing her petition.  The Bill will be introduced on 9^th November 2020.

Support For the Climate Change Act

Most of you will know of Manly local, Zali Steggall, who last year took on ex-Prime Minister Tony Abbott to become the Federal Independent member for Warringah. Her platform was predominately based on climate change.  Earlier this year she launched her Climate Change Act.

Sjirk Bangma, President of Lane Cove Sustainability Action Group supports the Climate Change Act.

Sjirik said, “Over 100 local governments in Australia, including Lane Cove Council, have joined countless jurisdictions around the world by declaring a Climate Emergency. This must send a signal to our Federal Government that the time to commit to Net Zero emissions by 2050 is now. This is a central part of the Climate Change Act and requires unilateral support.”

Zali Steggall is excited about local support.  She said, “the climate change impacts are happening now. Last summer’s horrific bushfires were a shocking realisation for many of what is to come if we don’t start acting. The Climate Change Act is the first step in protecting our economy, our way of life and our environment. We are calling for an end to climate wars. Let’s commit to a real plan. We have received enormous support from our neighbouring electorates of Wentworth and North Sydney who want their local federal members to vote for the Bill.”

Also supporting the Climate Change Act is Bridget Kennedy, 2019 Lane Cove Citizen of the Year and North Sydney Council Sustainability Champion who is passionate about sustainable change at all levels of government and community.

Bridget said, “The time for serious action on climate change is now. All parties, at all levels of Government, need to show leadership to implement an effective plan. We need progress locally, nationally and globally to ensure a viable future for all of humanity. Signing the Climate Change Act is a way to show our government representatives that we want them to support immediate change”

Other North Shore Residents Are on Board

Cremorne resident Suzy Bessell is involved in a community-led North Sydney based group supporting the Climate Change Act and recently met with Trent Zimmerman our Federal Member of Parliament (Member for North Sydney). She comments, “We know climate change is important to so many people in our electorate. Thousands have already signed the petition for the Bill, but we need thousands of signatures so Trent and our Prime Minister know we want them to support this Climate Change Act.”

She further said, “While climate change is really a science-based issue, which impacts every one of us, the underpinning solutions will be found through a political framework where the Climate Change Act, based on a UK model, offers a way forward in what’s been a long-stalled decade on this vital issue.”

In Lane Cove and other suburbs in the North Sydney electorate, we’re fortunate to live in an area full of natural bushland.  We are leafy Lane Cove.

The Lane Cove Sustainability Action Group has spearheaded campaigns against single-use plastic bags, lobbied for the introduction of the return and earn scheme NSW, implemented responsible cafes in Lane Cove and much more.  Read more about LCSAG here.

If you support the Climate Change Bill, you can join 2,314 others in the North Sydney electorate by adding your name to the Climate Change Act petition here.  Supporters of the Climate Change Act want you to share the link with friends or even send an email (or call) Trent Zimmerman asking him to support the Climate Change Act 

If you want to know more about climate change in North Sydney you might want to contact the local group supporting this initiative, North Sydney – Climate Act Now,