Decision details

Moved by Councillor Phelps, seconded by Councillor Forster –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          analysis has found that a long-haul flight generates more carbon emissions than the average person in dozens of countries around the world produces in a whole year;

(ii)         the City of Sydney has shown a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint;

(iii)        it was the first local council in Australia to be certified as carbon neutral under the national carbon offset standard;

(iv)       the City ensures information about its carbon neutral programme - including offset certificates - is transparent and available for public scrutiny on its website. Offsets are purchased and retired in arrears at the end of the reporting period, and each year the City purchases offsets to ensure it remains 100 per cent carbon neutral;

(v)         this environmental commitment is only declared for travel the City of Sydney pays for; and

(vi)       the City receives invitations from various cities globally for Councillors and Council Staff to travel for diplomatic and relationship-building purposes. Many of these invitations are paid for by the inviter;

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)          use the City of Sydney budget to pay for all international and domestic travel by Councillors and Council Staff;

(ii)         include all travel expenditure reported in financial statements; and

(iii)        record and include carbon offsets for domestic and international travel in the offsets purchased and retired in arrears at the end of the reporting period.

The motion was lost on the following show of hands –

Ayes (3)     Councillors Forster, Phelps and Scott

Noes (6)     The Chair (the Deputy Lord Mayor), Councillors Chung, Kok, Miller, Thalis and Vithoulkas.

Motion lost.

S129263