Local Government Leadership
A 25 Year Journey
The Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre has been established as the culmination of Blue Mountains City Council’s inspirational 25-year planetary health journey with its community.
Guided by a Sustainability Model and Map for Action, this journey has focused on creating a ‘more sustainable Blue Mountains’ and a healthier planet - socially, economically and environmentally.
Local Governments & Communities Driving Systemic Change
Recognising that the world is made up of local government areas who are the land managers of the world, the Centre demonstrates how local governments can work with their communities to drive the systemic change needed to improve the health of all life. This change can be scaled and grow exponentially, driving a bottom-up revolution to restore the health of our planet.
The Centre is creating a compelling vision for the future by providing alternatives to current paradigms and a way forward that offers hope for current and future generations.
Our Current Focus Areas
Local Government-Led Collaborative Media
We have created hyperlocal media in every neighbourhood across our Bioregion from the Lower Mountains to Lithgow, to share local stories by local people. Our news sites are solutions-focused and provide local directories, resources and events calendars to grow social connection and disaster readiness in every community.
These local stories are shared globally to our Planetary Health News.
View our stories of how each sector has taken action here:
Individuals | Community Groups | Businesses | Organisations | Educators/Researchers | Governments | Collaborations
We welcome citizen journalists, and other Councils, to share their solutions stories with us. Contact planetaryhealth@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or ring 0407 437 553 with your stories or suggestions.
Local Government-Led Learning and Research
Blue Mountains City Council was the first Council in Australia to adopt the Rights of Nature; it has adopted a Statement of Recognition and Commitment with First Nations; and it has joined Mayors for Peace: a global movement calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting world peace.
Our Centre is committed to the Rights of Nature, to embracing Indigenous wisdom and knowledge, to peace, and to pluralism: which embraces and values diversity, tolerance, equal rights, and inclusivity.
To support pluralism in our community, our Planetary Health Pluriversity facilitates learning and research from many voices in many ways. It recognises that we are all teachers and learners, and its programs are co-designed by Council and community.
Our focus areas include Disaster Risk Reduction, Permaculture and Peace.
Online Resources
We are creating and sharing online resources to support everyone to take action to reduce the risk of disaster and restore the health of our planet.
View online resources here:
bmpluriversity.org/circular-water/
View our YouTube channel resources here: