Lynette Dickinson, Pottsville.
The experts are saying that the gravest threat facing the planet over the next decade is climate change. As the devastating impacts of climate change will affect each and every one of us, it is up to governments at all levels and all members of the community to take responsibility and do something about it.
Our Tweed Greens Mayor Katie Milne has done just that. She put up a successful notice of motion at the 27 October meeting for Council to write to the Prime Minister and Queensland Premier to express Council’s concern about the extraction of 2.3 billion tonnes of coal from Adani’s planned Carmichael mine in the Galilee Basin, which would result in 4.6 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions. The resolution also requires disclosure by civil construction tenders of any involvement in providing services to, or contracting for, the development and operation of this mine and consideration of a Council policy position if that is the case. [NOTE: A similar motion was recently passed by the Lismore Council.]
According to Tweed Council’s guiding principles, it should ‘carry out its functions in a way that facilitates a local community that is strong, healthy and prosperous’. Their responsibilities therefore embrace all the issues which put residents at risk, eg extreme weather events, homelessness, inequality and domestic violence. If the issue is not within their jurisdiction, it is up to Council to make recommendations to the relevant state or federal body and advocate for better outcomes for residents. Their responsibility goes well beyond roads, rates and rubbish.
If we are serious about reducing the impacts of climate change, we should be phasing out existing coal mines, not building new ones. If New Zealand can plan for a transition to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2035, so can we!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
