By Jed Lanyon
The Moora Moora Community voted to declare a climate emergency at their monthly meeting on 6 July while pushing for Yarra Ranges Council to act in the same manner.
Moora Moora is an intentional community in Mount Toolebewong and has joined a growing movement of local governments and other organisations declaring a climate emergency.
Established in 1974, the community now consists of about 40 adults and 20 children and hopes to encourage others to do the same and to act together to restore a safe climate on Earth.
The Moora Moora Community has formed a working party to take action on this declaration.
Twenty-eight councils across Australia and close to 800 local councils across the globe have declared a climate emergency, including the cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart.
Moora Moora community member Amy Glastonbury said, “We realise that the term ‘emergency’ is alarming for people, but global warming is an emergency.
“The term is being used to pressure governments and corporations to make major changes to the way we do things at a national and global level, and to take action immediately.
“The Australian government has been very effective in emergency responses in the past, let’s see that happen now.”
In a media release, the Moora Moora Community said they are looking forward to working with other local groups, such as Yarra Valley Community for Climate Action, Healesville CORE, Healesville-Upper Yarra Greens, Ecoss and council to respond in the scale and speed necessary to effectively address global warming.
The Moora Moora climate declaration read, “We, the community of Moora Moora, declare a climate emergency and pledge to take action to restore a safe climate… We also pledge to prepare ourselves and our children for life on a warmer planet.”
