Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill has been named Climate Ambassador of the Year at the national Cities Power Partnership Awards held on Thursday (29 October 2020).
Cr Greenhill, OAM, was recognised for his leadership in driving climate action and keeping climate on the national agenda during last season's catastrophic bushfires. During the fires he spoke to news outlets all over the world declaring climate change had "supercharged" the fires.
"I am honoured to receive the Climate Ambassador Award," Mayor Greenhill said. "Blue Mountains City Council was one of the first councils in NSW to declare a climate emergency. Climate change and sustainability is at the centre of Council's strategic planning.
"Last summer we experienced an unprecedented bushfire season and our city faced fires on three fronts. We are seeing the effects of climate change right now. It is supercharging natural disasters all around us. For the sake of both humanity and our natural world, we must all act."
The Cities Power Partnership Awards recognise the work of climate heroes in local governments across the country who are transforming Australia's energy landscape.
Dr Portia Odell, acting director of the Partnership said it was " hard to imagine a more committed, consistent and passionate climate ambassador than Mayor Greenhill".
"He was an early champion of climate change, and has continued to make tremendous inroads elevating climate change as a priority on a local, national and global scale," Dr Odell said.
This follows Blue Mountains City Council winning two awards at Local Government NSW's Excellence in the Environment Awards earlier this month.
Council won an award for Innovation in Planning, Policies and Decision Making for its Water Sensitive Blue Mountains Strategic Plan. It sets out the best-practice approaches and design principles Council will follow to manage our city's waterways and water resources.
The Blue Mountains 2040: Living Sustainably Local Strategic Planning Statement was also highly commended in the Local Sustainability award. Developed with extensive community consultation, the Statement is Council's long term land use plan, aimed at ensuring the Blue Mountains can respond to the challenges and opportunities for the future.
