This week Newcastle City Council voted in support of two motions in the aim of decreasing the city's carbon footprint and environmental impacts.
In addition to Newcastle's current 2020 Carbon and Water Action Plan, the Council will commit the city to reaching the principals and targets of the Paris Climate Agreement and investigating the health impacts of coal-fired power stations in the Hunter.
Newcastle Greens Councillor John Mackenzie says this environmental pledge has come at a crucial time.
"These policies are especially significant right now as both state and federal governments have completely abandoned the task of climate action.
"It is up to each city to take the lead and implement policies to decrease the environmental impact they have...Newcastle is not going to wait for this government to get itself together, we are going to start making the changes needed to stop dangerous, run-away climate change now."
Cr Mackenzie outlines that conducting examination on the impacts of coal-fired power stations is greatly important for Newcastle residents.
"We must conduct further investigation into the health impacts of coal-fired power stations have been shown to increase the number of low birth rate babies in the Hunter every year...A health impact which is entirely preventable."
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