Brisbane is set to become the first Australian city to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
A special motion went before this afternoon’s City Council meeting, but the Labor-backed proposal fell short of the required two-thirds majority when the Liberals opposed it.
The Labor councillors will now use their numbers in Cabinet next week to authorise the move.
Deputy Mayor David Hinchliffe believes it could set a precedent.
"Brisbane has a perfect opportunity now of leading Australia and joining with 320 US cities, and these are not small-time backward cities, they are the major cities of the US – New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New Orleans, Chicago," he said.
"Australia has no cities that have agreed to those targets. Brisbane City Council will be the first."
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