Page 446 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 22 March 2022
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Zero Emissions Policy Forum can collaborate and share resources, as well as looking into existing tools that can be adopted and adapted to the local ACT context.
One ambition of the forum is to provide a shared suite of tools across jurisdictions to address the policy challenges of achieving net zero emissions. An online carbon calculator for local businesses, tailored for regional or unique circumstances, lends itself very well to this vision and will be a good early contribution to the work of this group from the ACT government. Through this motion, consideration will also be given to ensure that local ACT businesses have a pathway and clear guidance to assist them to reduce or offset their carbon emissions.
I am also calling on the ACT government to consider an accreditation scheme, rewards and incentives, promotional opportunities, and/or gamification. This will help businesses to engage with the calculator and commit to their carbon reduction goals. Gamification has proven an effective method of committing to and achieving goals, whether they be environmental or related to health and fitness, financial savings, productivity, e-commerce and business rewards programs.
In exploring opportunities to assist businesses to offset their carbon emissions, I would anticipate that this would be a suitable suggestion for programs and activities which ACT businesses can contribute, endorsed by the ACT government and the Net Zero Emissions Policy Forum.
In closing, I would like to acknowledge the many, many businesses across the ACT taking positive, constructive steps to lower their greenhouse gas emissions. I want to thank the many organisations and groups in the ACT who are assisting local businesses in their endeavours to become more environmentally friendly.
Mr Deputy Speaker and colleagues, the development of an online carbon calculator is a practical solution that will be easily accessed by all local businesses in the ACT. Thank you.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism) (4.28): I thank Dr Paterson for bringing the motion forward this afternoon. As she has indicated, as a founding member of the Net Zero Emissions Policy Forum, the ACT can work with other Australian subnational governments and, indeed, international partners to develop practical solutions to the challenges of climate change and to accelerate the transition to a net zero emissions future.
The motion before us this afternoon calls on the ACT government to take the concept of an online carbon calculator for businesses to the forum for consideration on how it could be developed and implemented. I am very happy to do so, and I thank Dr Paterson for the suggestion.
It is fair to observe that there are a range of carbon footprint calculators that are currently available online. However, they are predominantly focused on the emissions associated with an individual’s lifestyle and resource consumption. While these calculators can be applied to estimate emissions from business operations, more
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