While Bega Valley Shire Council has joined a growing list of Australian councils in declaring a climate emergency, not all councillors are backing the move.
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The motion, put forward by Greens councillor Cathy Griff, proposed council's upcoming Climate Resilience Strategy recognise a climate emergency, and that future reports must include an assessment of potential climate change impacts.
"The motion gives priority to climate change action at a local level," Cr Griff said.
"The severity of droughts, fires and floods are increasingly reported as linked to climate change. Recognising the climate crisis is important to developing strong and urgent response projects and plans. The motion demonstrates effective leadership and will help to position us for industry and government grant funding.
"Local governments throughout Australia and globally are achieving success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Council's motion sends a hopeful message to the community of a strong commitment to the urgent work to be done."
The sticky point is, is it a climate emergency or changing climate patterns. I've been around the debate long enough to know language can be important.
- BVSC councillor Robyn Bain
Councillors Russell Fitzpatrick, Robyn Bain and Mitchell Nadin voted against the move, with Cr Bain going a step further by advising the mayor and general manager she will lodge a rescission motion. The former executive director of the Cement Industry Federation, Australian Industry Greenhouse Network spokesperson and Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate member described the term "climate emergency" as divisive, adding that it should be replaced with the words "variable and changing climate patterns".
Cr Bain's move echoes that of Eurobodalla Shire Cr Rob Pollock who successfully proposed the same changes two weeks ago.
"The sticky point is, is it a climate emergency or changing climate patterns," she said on Thursday.
"I've been around the debate long enough to know language can be important.
"The argument yesterday was not about denying the science. We need to rethink this in terms of how we communicate. I'd much rather adopt language in a positive fashion."
Cr Bain said the term "emergency" would disengage many residents from climate change discussions, and suggested the vote should have been held with Cr Tony Allen, who is currently on holiday overseas, in attendance
Before Wednesday's Bega Valley Shire Council meeting, Wonboyn oyster farmer and volunteer firefighter Andrew Jeeves was joined by four other speakers in support of the motion.
Mr Jeeves said rising acid levels in sea water is already effecting oyster shells in Northern NSW, and sea level projections predict his current aquaculture farm will turn from a lake to a beach as sea levels rise.
"It's a bit like the canary in the coal mine. If oysters are in trouble then everything is," Mr jeeves said.
"There are major impacts already as a farmer. It is just such a difficult thing for government, because we are so dependent on oil and coal.
"A lot of people have entrenched positions because it's become political."
COMMENT: Deny climate emergency at our peril
The motion proposed by Greens councillor Cathy Griff was carried at Wednesday's meeting with Crs Liz Seckold, Jo Dodds, Sharon Tapscott and Mayor Kristy McBain in support.
Councillors Russell Fitzpatrick, Robyn Bain and Mitchell Nadin voted against the move, while Cr Tony Allen was absent.
Fourth generation Bega Valley resident Mica Lynnah urged councillors to "listen to the experts", and high school teacher Laurel Waddell said the region is not "immune to the problems of the world".
Two residents also spoke against the motion, with Campbell Bruce Geddes Stewart accusing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of attempting to redistribute the world's wealth, while Dr Deborah Rizzoli claimed the climate emergency movement is part of a "government created revolution" with the aim of spreading "socialism".