LEADING THE NATION IN CLIMATE ACTION
Canberra is different to the rest of the country. We’re progressive, we look after each other and we take the climate crisis seriously.
Already with the influence of the ACT Greens, we have secured 100% renewable electricity and we've banned all new gas connections.
Our community wants real climate action that leaves no person behind, but for years, federal Liberal governments held everyone back. Meanwhile, federal Labor has been a massive let-down, approving more coal and gas projects, fuelling emissions and making the climate crisis worse.
The ACT Greens have driven real action on climate and we're ready to do it again as the only party providing real climate leadership this election.
JUMP TO: Real Climate Leadership | More Electric Vehicles | Adapting to Climate Change
REAL CLIMATE LEADERSHIP FOR THE ACT
The ACT is different to the rest of the country. We’re progressive, we look after each other, and we take the climate crisis seriously.
This election the ACT Greens are promising to step up ambition on climate change, to reduce energy costs for Canberrans and to show other governments what it looks like to take climate change seriously.
We’ve got to make sure the cost of living crisis, which is causing widespread inequality, doesn’t hold people back from taking the climate action they want to take.
THE ACT GREENS WILL:
- Fully fund gas-to-electric upgrades for 5,000 of the lowest income households
- Deliver pilot projects to demonstrate all-electric apartment solutions to help extend the benefits of electrifying to Canberrans who live in apartments
- Boost electrification efforts by prohibiting all new gas appliances from 2027 onwards
- Establish a nation-leading Electrify Canberra Skills Hub at the Canberra Institute of Technology
- Increase the pace of change by accelerating the ACT’s emissions reduction targets
- Ensure Canberra's scope 3 emissions start declining from 2028 onwards
- Deliver an extra 300MW of battery storage in the ACT
- Improve travel for Canberrans and take on the ACT’s biggest polluter — transport — by improving the bus, light rail and path network and supporting more people to choose an electric vehicle.
MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Taking the climate crisis seriously means building a city that gives Canberrans access to a range of emissions-free transport - from light rail, to buses, to zero-emission cars.
In Government, the ACT Greens have led the nation in reducing the cost of new electric vehicles so that we can dramatically reduce the number of petrol cars driving around the city.
But the unfortunate reality is that for many people, replacing their petrol car with an electric alternative is simply not a financially viable option.
THE ACT GREENS WILL:
- Install banks of DC fast chargers in every town centre and in the parliamentary triangle
- Deliver two solar covered car parks with battery storage and electric vehicle charging
- Introduce a $4000 rebate to help low-income renters and apartment residents purchase an electric vehicle
- Facilitate the establishment of a thriving electric vehicle repair, reuse and recycling sector
- Offer zero interest loans up to $15,000 for small businesses to purchase zero emissions vehicles
- Make more changes to vehicle duty to discourage highly polluting new vehicles
- Maintain progress towards the prohibition of registration of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035
- Offer zero interest loans for multi-unit buildings to to install shared electric vehicle chargers
- Expand the Electric Vehicle Training Centre at CIT to train more electric vehicle automotive technicians
Adapting to Climate Change
With Greens in Government the ACT has become a global leader on climate action. We have cut emissions by over 40%, shifted to 100% renewable electricity, and committed to phasing out polluting fossil fuel gas.
But the reality is that our climate is changing and we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change through more frequent heat waves, more intense bush fires, more severe droughts and increased intensity of rainfall events.
We need to put in place measures across the city to adapt to the changing climate, and prepare for these extreme weather events.
THE ACT GREENS WILL:
- Plant at least 20,000 street trees each year to increase urban canopy cover with a focus on suburbs with the least tree cover, ensuring tree species are climate appropriate and non- invasive
- Bring back the iconic bus stop bunkers – or other types of climate ready, shaded and weather-resistant bus shelters across Canberra with a focus on areas where they are lacking.
- Establish a Chief Heat Officer to coordinate responses to extreme heat events, and develop a Climate and Health Strategy.
- Work with the community to trial and implement city cooling interventions, including active measures such as misting systems and awnings, or passive systems such as water features, street plantings, green roofs and facades
- Increase funding for the Emergency Services Agency and ACT Parks and Conservation Service to reflect the increased bushfire risk, longer bushfire season and increased likelihood of severe weather events.