The Greens say they will push City of Newcastle to adopt practical measures for reducing carbon emissions if elected next month.
The party has laid out a platform for climate action which includes converting all council vehicles and equipment to electric power, recycling organic waste, planting more tree cover in the city and improving energy efficiency in new buildings.
The council has committed to being carbon neutral by 2030 and has set a 2040 target for the entire city.
Lord mayoral and ward one candidate John Mackenzie said the Greens would push for practical measures to achieve the targets.
"It isn't enough to set long-distance goals for decades away and cross your fingers that you'll get there," he said.
"We're going to press the accelerator for practical measures at the first meeting of the new council, and we will keep our foot flat to the floor."
Ward two candidate Charlotte McCabe called on the council to switch to a 100 per cent electric vehicle fleet by 2030.
"From the mowers and whipper-snippers to the garbage trucks, all council's petrol- and diesel-fuelled vehicles, plant and equipment will need to be replaced with renewable alternatives as they reach the end of their productive lives," she said.
She said the council would have to develop the charging infrastructure to support the fleet, which would encourage more private buyers to choose electric vehicles.
The Greens also oppose the PEP 11 offshore gas exploration proposal now awaiting government approval.
"If it is approved by the Liberals, we will move for council to oppose developments that provide on-shore support or infrastructure for the project," Ms McCabe said.
Other actions in the Greens' platform include increasing the city's urban tree cover to 40 per cent and improving planning controls to enable green roofs and walls.
The party wants the council to set up a specialist team to develop, plan and deliver its carbon reduction plan.
In the news
-
'Well done, people of the Hunter': vaccination rate hits magic milestone
- One man in hospital as firefighters save three neighbouring homes
- 62 new cases of COVID-19 reported by Hunter New England Health today
- Round by round: the 2022 NRL draw
- Police remove climate activists from rail lines at Sandgate
- A tour of Newcastle's newest Hunter Street bar
