Page 1806 - Week 06 - Thursday, 3 June 2021
Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
emissions. The Strategy identifies priorities for ACT Government leadership, such as transitioning to a zero-emissions bus fleet (action 5.9) and a zero-emissions government passenger vehicle fleet (action 5.15).
In September 2020, Transport Canberra released its Zero Emissions transition plan for Transport Canberra (the Plan) which sets out the priority to achieve a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040. The Plan will result in emissions reductions from Transport Canberra and will promote additional emissions reduction by providing better buses and better services for Canberrans, with the goal to increase public transport use. The government’s transition to zero-emissions vehicles (action 3.21) has been recognised as a leading role model through an Australasian Fleet Management Association award, which will help drive ZEV uptake more broadly.
The Strategy has also committed to developing a plan for achieving zero emissions from gas use by 2045 (action 4.5). This is a complex and wide-ranging task, but the effective phase out of fossil-fuel gas use in the ACT will make a major contribution to a zero-emissions future.
Helping households to invest in energy and emissions savings practices and technologies continues to be a key part of the Strategy. The action in the Strategy to expand the Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme (EEIS; action 4.19) delivers emissions savings through activities that encourage the shift from gas to high efficiency electric appliances. Since the EEIS commenced in January 2013, over 78,000 households and businesses have participated in the Scheme, including more than 20,500 priority low–income households. Over 1.35 million energy saving items have been installed, delivering more than 7 million gigajoules (GJ) of lifetime energy savings, over $445 million of lifetime energy bill savings, and lifetime greenhouse gas emission reductions of around 580 kilo tonnes (kt CO2–e). Further, the Strategy action to introduce minimum energy performance requirements for rental properties (action 4.7) is expected to deliver emissions reductions across the energy sector as well as ensure more liveable conditions for all Canberrans.
The ACT has met its 2020 emissions reduction target. The Strategy recognises that achieving future targets “will require continual learning and improvement as well as the active participation of the whole community”. Key measures announced in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement (PAGA) are part of this process of learning and improvement. The $150 million Sustainable Household Scheme of no-interest loans, the $100 million Big Battery Program promoting energy innovation in the ACT, and the $50 million Vulnerable Household Scheme to ensure vulnerable households are not left behind, are the largest examples. We will continue to monitor new technologies and opportunities and seek new and effective ways to meet our ambitious targets.
Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video