Page 3790 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 22 November 2006

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Question put:

That Mr Barr’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment agreed to.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

Environment—climate change

MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (4.26): I move:

That this Assembly notes:

(1) the importance of recognising climate change;

(2) that there is policy developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and

(3) that the Canberra public is educated about climate change and what they can do on a grass roots level to contribute to a cleaner world.

The scientific evidence that climate change is real is irrefutable. Action needs to be taken now if we are going to secure a sustainable environment for future generations to enjoy. As the recent Stern report shows, the cost of delaying action is far greater than the cost of taking action now. The central message from the Stern report is a simple one: it will cost far less to cut emissions now than to adapt to the consequences later on. The review calculates that the dangers of climate change would be equivalent to at least 20 per cent of GDP each year. By contrast, the cost of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impact of climate change can be limited to around one per cent of global GDP each year.

Even though the ACT is a small contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, we have a responsibility to play a part in ameliorating the problems that are causing changes to our natural environment. Indeed, all sectors of the community have a responsibility to contribute to cutbacks in greenhouse gas emissions, but governments have a particular prerogative to lead the community in this area.

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