Councils put heat on Rudd: Lift climate targets or face increased infrastructure costs

The Australian Greens have welcomed a united call from Australia's 565 local councils calling for a review of the targets in the government's flawed climate change legislation.

The Australian Greens' Local Government Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam praised local government for its responsible leadership on climate.

"Local government is closer to the community and understands Australians want real action by lifting the weak targets Mr Rudd has set in the climate change legislation currently before Parliament."

"Mr Rudd is proposing weak targets that will condemn the Great Barrier Reef and the Murray Darling Basin - and the more than 190,000 local jobs that depend on them."

At the end of the National General Assembly, the councils' communiqué calls on the Federal Government to 'to further review the adequacy of targets currently identified in the CPRS and to ensure that the scheme recognises voluntary actions within communities.'

"Local Government knows that climate change will usher in sea-level rises and more frequent and severe natural disasters - and it's calling for greater government action on behalf of local communities."

"Not taking action on climate change will impact financially on local councils and their communities through increased damage from natural disasters."

"Prime Minister Rudd must recognise that its $16 billion handout to big polluters under its climate change legislation has left local councils with a huge task ahead but little government support."

Senator Ludlam also praised local councils for insisting that voluntary actions by organisations and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint should also be encouraged, not penalised, under the CPRS.