Forty-one mayors from across the country, including Blue Mountains Cr Mark Greenhill, have made a commitment to post-COVID solutions that both create jobs and tackle climate change.
The mass commitment to a sustainable economic recovery aims to support industries and sectors that invest in a zero carbon future, along with driving strong economic recovery for communities hit hard in recent times.
Cr Greenhill said the community continued to feel the impact of the horrific Gosper's Mountain fire, which started in the Wollemi National Park with a lightning bolt a year ago (October 26).
It spread to become the biggest bushfire to have started from a single ignition point ever seen in Australia, reaching into the Mountains, across to Lithgow, the Hawkesbury and Central Coast.
It was finally contained around January 13, having affected local homes and property in Mt Wilson and Irvine, Mt Tomah, Berambing, Mt Victoria, Blackheath, Bell, Bilpin, Clarence and Dargan. It burnt 512,000 hectares of bush.
Cr Greenhill said he believed people were crying out for solutions that would safeguard against future climate shocks as well as give a much-needed boost to the local economy.
"As mayor of a community hit by last season's catastrophic bushfires, which were supercharged by climate change, it's extremely disappointing to see that climate remains a glaringly missing piece on the federal agenda," said Cr Greenhill.
"The Blue Mountains community, which is heavily dependent on tourism dollars, has largely been cut off since October 2019. Some people simply cannot afford to rebuild their homes, and many have lost their jobs. We can't pay the price of inaction much longer.
"That's why I am standing alongside mayors from across the country to usher in job-creating, clean energy solutions that transition our economy away from the key drivers of the climate crisis, like coal and gas, and make communities like mine stronger and more resilient - it's crucial."
City of Ryde Mayor, Jerome Laxale said all councils must play a role in sustainable economic recovery and climate change.
"Be it fires, floods or COVID-19, local governments have been at the forefront to the response of economic recovery," said Cr Laxale.
"Local governments across Australia can lead communities through a zero carbon recovery by prioritising local jobs, building sustainable infrastructure and investing in renewables."
The joint statement, launched alongside a new report, Clean jobs for communities: How local governments can create sustainable, strong economies, outlines eight solutions from renewable energy through to sustainable transport that put local governments on a practical, jobs-rich path to future-proof cities, reduce energy costs and create more comfortable homes and workplaces.
