2020-09-09
The ACT Greens welcome ACT Labor’s commitment to transition the ACT’s public bus fleet to zero emissions over time - however, this commitment can and should be more ambitious.
For the Greens, it’s simple - at a time of climate crisis, every decision is a climate decision.
The ACT Labor policy states that diesel buses can be purchased before 2025. This is bad news for Canberra, and bad news for the planet.
The Greens’ clear position is that the ACT should not buy any more diesel buses from today, and that we should transition the entire bus fleet to zero emissions vehicles by 2035 at the latest.
These buses will have a lifespan of 15-20 years. Buying diesel buses now means we won’t have a zero emissions bus fleet in Canberra for at least another two decades.
The market sounding that is about to occur will ask for electric buses, and we are hopeful suitable models will be available for supply. If these are not available, the Greens believe only shorter term leases of second hand buses should be looked at until zero emission models are available.