2020-09-29
At a time of climate crisis, the ACT Greens today announced plans to transition over time to a clean, green all-electric Canberra, with the goal of making the ACT ‘fossil fuel gas free’ by 2040.
A polluting fossil fuel, so-called ‘natural’ gas contributes 22% of the ACT’s total greenhouse gas emissions. At a time of climate emergency, we must transition away from gas and get to zero net emissions or we will face the catastrophic consequences of irreversible global warming.
That’s why the Greens have a plan to put our climate first, today announcing a series of climate action commitments, including:
- Ruling out greenfield gas connections in new suburbs from 2021.
- An intensive 2 year transition, program working with industry and the community to end new infill gas connections from 2023. The transition project will include a joint pilot to create an all-electric Molonglo commercial centre
- A $20 million financial support program to assist businesses and residents with existing gas connections to transition to efficient electric appliances such as heat pumps and reverse cycle air conditioning, making them the most economical purchase, and providing more Canberrans with lower energy bills.
- New support for community scale battery storage and microgrids, and establishing a new ACT Government branch to manage battery and microgrid rollouts and market processes
- Delivering a 10 year pathway to shift to world’s best practice on climate-ready and environmentally-sustainable buildings and planning, including a nation leading, sustainable building code, and zero-emission building demonstration projects as part of land releases.
As we accelerate our world-leading climate action efforts, The Greens climate plans will leave no Canberrans behind. Last week the ACT Greens also committed $50 million to create and leverage a ‘Just Transition Fund’ that will cut energy bills and make homes and businesses more energy-efficient, focused on low-income households, renters and other vulnerable groups.
It comes as the Greens also recently announced plans to:
- Deliver a $53 million plan to Repair the Land
- Deliver a $30 million plan to Repair our Waterways
- Reaching 30% tree canopy coverage by establishing a network of neighbourhood forests and resilient ecosystems throughout Canberra
- Cut greenhouse gas emissions by kickstarting Australia’s electric vehicle sector
- Making development more sustainable.
Comments attributable to ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury:
“Despite the COVID pandemic, the climate emergency has not gone away - and we’re now in a crucial time in human history, where the decisions we make today will have enormous consequences for generations to come. We must cut our pollution and get to zero emissions as fast as possible or we will face catastrophic consequences of irreversible global warming - including right here in Canberra.
“With Greens in Government, the ACT is a proud climate action leader. We’re acting now to give our community and local industries the certainty they need to deliver on a sensible, long-term transition away from fossil fuels and instead invest in clean, green, reliable and affordable clean energy options.
“But at a time of climate emergency, there’s still so much more we can and must do. We must tackle the climate crisis head-on.
“This commitment will accelerate Canberra as the nation’s leading sustainable city, with zero emission buildings, battery storage and microgrids, cheaper energy bills, and a thriving green building economy. The Greens understand the urgent need to make these important steps for our future, and are committed to offering financial support measures for residents and businesses to make these transitions.
“At the local level, we have already delivered 100% renewable electricity for the ACT. Now, a shift away from gas over time will help cut our emissions in step with what the climate scientists tell us we need to do to avoid a climate catastrophe. For Canberrans, this means transitioning over your gas appliances when they come to the end of their natural lifespan. Electric appliances are the cheaper and cleaner alternative over the long term.
“Nationally, Scott Morrison wants to give public money meant for renewable energy to new polluting gas projects. New gas projects will devastate our environment, threaten our water and air and lock us in for even more dangerous global heating.
“Now is the time for bold government investment in the clean, green energy industries of the future.”
The full package is available at: greens.org.au/act/get-off-gas