The Centre says Hobart faces a triple threat of bushfires, storms and floods with the Bureau of Meteorology confirming a strong to very strong El Nino is under way.
It says the Bureau forecasts a strong to very strong event with waters along the eastern Tasmania coast about 3°-4°Celsius warmer than average.
Hobart resident Susan Hoult, who worked with council on this motion, told the Centre: “Hobart is a city prone to the dual threats of damaging storms and bushfires.
“As we transition into a super El Nino period with heightened bushfire risk, with the memory of recent storms and high winds still fresh, we are reminded of the costs of both climate damage and adaptation to our community,” she says.
“We’ve been out talking to people on the streets about cost of living and climate change and overwhelmingly, people support polluters, rather than residents, paying.
“People say ‘if you make a mess, you should clean it up.’ The same applies to big polluters. It’s the simple, fair thing to do,” Hoult says.
The motion calls for a federal parliamentary Inquiry into the 2025 National Adaptation Plan, create a dedicated funding stream for councils equal to the scale of financial risks identified in the 2025 National Climate Risk Assessment, and introduce a Climate Pollution Levy on coal, oil and gas export corporations.
SYDNEY CITY MOTION
Recently, former fire and emergency service leaders also welcomed the push, led by Sydney City Council for a national levy.
Former Commissioner, Fire and Rescue NSW and founder of the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action Greg Mullins says: “We can’t expect local councils to pay for rising damage bills while companies profit from climate pollution, driving these worsening disasters.
“As a group of 38 former emergency service leaders we’ve warned that coal, oil and gas companies are pouring fuel on the fire, intensifying climate-fuelled bushfires and other disasters, while communities all over Australia are paying the price.
“To best help communities we need to cut climate pollution fast, and prepare for the warming that’s already locked in.
“Councils need dedicated funding to help prepare for future fires, floods and storms made worse by climate pollution.”
OUR EARLIER STORY: Councils call on Canberra for funding help
