Page 1611 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 19 May 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The ACT strategy is designed to be consistent with these national and international developments, particularly the goal of the national greenhouse response strategy, namely:
To contribute towards effective global action to limit greenhouse gas emissions and enhance greenhouse sinks; to improve knowledge and understanding of the enhanced greenhouse effect; and to prepare for potential impacts of climate change in Australia.
The ACT strategy emphasises the value of preventing greenhouse gas emissions in the first place rather than merely a "fix it afterwards" approach. This approach has additional benefits - for example, savings in energy costs - and ensures the optimum utilisation of the community's resources. It is also consistent with the national approach of initiating, in the first instance, no regrets options - that is, those worthwhile initiatives which are of little or no cost, or for which costs are recoverable in the short term. The strategy contains a set of principles and a policy framework within which the ongoing activities of government can be developed to be greenhouse friendly. It recognises the link with other policies of the ACT Government and the need for the strategy to be integrated with, and supportive of, existing government policies. Notably, the strategy has been designed to be supportive of, and complementary to, the ACT environment strategy currently being developed.
The principles are: First, ensuring sustainability by utilising the community's resources in such a way as to ensure that ecological processes are maintained and that the total quality of life, including environmental amenity, is enhanced. Second, maximising urban efficiency to ensure that the basic functions carried out in a city, including the provision of infrastructure and services to the community, are carried out as efficiently as possible. Third, user pays, polluter pays, which means that pricing and charging structures adequately reflect the full social and environmental costs of resource use. Fourth, social justice considerations which provide for equity within and between generations and which ensure that the needs of the various sectors of the community are taken into account. Fifth, provision of the necessary information and education programs. Last, the need for government leadership and commitment, having regard to national developments.
Consistent with these principles, the Government is setting in place a broad policy framework within which the ACT can effectively address the greenhouse issue. The Government recognises that an effective greenhouse strategy cannot be restricted to a number of specific initiatives no matter how worthy they might appear at the present time. Rather, it must provide a flexible framework within which issues can be addressed as they arise and, when viewed in the broader context, will lead to a reduced net greenhouse impact on the ACT. Given our geographical location and economic base, most notably our cold winters and absence of energy production and energy intensive industry, the ACT's scope for action is more limited than other jurisdictions. For example, we do not have any energy intensive steel or aluminium production. Power used in the ACT is generated elsewhere in the country. Nevertheless, ACT residents take advantage of consumer goods and energy supplies produced elsewhere and have a responsibility to do their bit in reducing global greenhouse emissions.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .