Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

City of Fremantle adopts Kyoto protocols

The City of Fremantle has adopted global Kyoto targets and committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions between 2008 and 2012 to at least 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels.

Fremantle Mayor, Peter Tagliaferri, said a strategy for reducing greenhouse gases to Kyoto levels or better is now being developed for consideration by Council.

"Our involvement in Cities for Climate Protection and our Wipe Out Waste program have positioned Fremantle well to fulfil Kyoto targets," he said.

The Kyoto protocol is an amendment to the international treaty on climate change, assigning mandatory targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to signatory nations. It is the only global initiative to address the threat of global warming.

Mayor Tagliaferri said of industrialised countries around the world, only Australia and the US have refused to sign the protocol, although many US Local Governments have committed their support for Kyoto protocols of their own accord.

"Because of Fremantle's geographical location on the coastal plane, the City would be devastated should a three metre rise in the sea level occur, caused by melting glaciers and the polar ice caps," he said. "Tangible scientific estimates suggest we can anticipate this by 2100, which was highlighted most recently in the Al Gore documentary, 'An Inconvenient Truth'. We can also expect an increase in land based evaporation, reducing water runoff into dams. Perth is already feeling these effects with only 33 per cent runoff, compared to 40 years ago."

As part of its Kyoto commitment, Fremantle will explore, among other options, the possibility of:

• negotiating with AlintaGas - one of Australia's leading energy infrastructure companies - to provide amore comprehensive account usage breakdown, allowing further power savings
• seeking a supplier for biodiesel to fuel Council's fleet
• using carbon neutral suppliers and products in purchasing
• reviewing Council's parking policy to encourage hybrid vehicles and small cars
• encouraging the use of solar panels and solar collectors
• lobbying the State and Federal Government on Kyoto protocols, through the Western Australian Local Government Association
• encouraging all businesses to commit to Kyoto protocols through a public register while promoting the use of renewable energy.

"I must stress these strategies and any associated costings are still in the developmental stage," Mayor Tagliaferri said. "But committing to the Kyoto targets gives us a goal to aim towards. I extend my congratulations to my fellow Councillors for their forward thinking on this matter, both in bringing this item to Council and for passing it in a timely fashion."

Around the country, a number of other Local Governments have also committed to the Kyoto targets.

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