DEAR News Of The Area,
COFFS Harbour City Council has voted 4-3 to scrap the ‘Climate Emergency Declaration’ adopted on 8 December 2022.
Reality, however, doesn’t care about council motions. Rising sea levels, increasing flood risks and worsening bushfire conditions won’t disappear because politicians vote to ignore them.
I remember the night the declaration was passed. Students from local schools spoke up for their future, supporters packed the chamber, and common sense prevailed.
After that meeting, I wrote the following letter to the editor:
“DEAR News Of The Area,
THE atmosphere was tense in the Coffs Harbour Council Chambers as the councillors debated a motion to ‘Declare a Climate Emergency’ proposed by Cr Jonathan Cassell and supported by five students, members of the Coffs Coast Youth Alliance, from three schools in the Coffs Coast area.
“Nikki Read gave an impassioned speech to the motion on behalf of the Coffs Coast Climate Action Group.
“Nikki said, ‘They are pleading with their hearts that you use your position to advocate for their futures by showing strong climate leadership.’
“Two male politicians who spoke against the motion were concerned that the science was not settled and that a dispute over polar bear numbers was proof of division in the science community.
“An alternative motion was produced to delay the decision for several months but was voted down.
“But then the original motion was passed 5 to 4 and greeted by the audience with loud applause.
The students had won!”
Regards,
Brian Mahony,
Coffs Harbour.
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