<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/councils-call-for-national-climate-compensation-fund-and-they-want-the-polluters-to-pay/>
"Local councils from around Australia are calling on the federal government to
establish a national fund to help foot the bill for the soaring costs of
climate adaptation and disaster management – and to finance it through a
Climate Pollution Levy on the coal, oil and gas industry.
In a motion that will be put forward by the City of Sydney and backed by the
Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) at a National General Assembly
next week, councils will ask for a dedicated funding stream to match the scale
of mounting climate costs.
Renew Economy believes ALGA is seeking around $400 million a year in federal
funding for local government climate adaptation and $900 million a year for
disaster management capacity.
The motion, which will be put to a vote at the meeting in Canberra next week,
calls for the creation of a National Climate Compensation Fund with a dedicated
funding stream for local governments.
To help finance the fund, the councils want the federal government to identify
taxes or levies on the coal, oil and gas industries that align with the damage
their products and operations cause.
“A Climate Compensation Fund would provide a fair and practical solution,” says
David Law, Councillor for Division 10 Sunshine Coast Council in Queensland.
“As a low-lying, coastal region with an extensive hinterland we face multiple
hazards including inundation, coastal erosion, flooding and riverine flooding,
land slip and bush fires. As these disasters become more frequent, the costs
are becoming increasingly unsustainable.
“By requiring major coal and gas corporations to contribute to the costs of
climate damage, it would give councils access to a dedicated funding stream for
recovery and resilience, and reduce the need for ongoing rate increases,” Law
said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
