Page 2632 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 5 June 2012
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Through the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, which came into effect in November 2010, emission reduction targets of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050 have been established. These targets set a clear direction for planning a more sustainable future. Adaptation to climate change is about maximising our resilience and our capacity to cope with unavoidable changes. A zero net emissions Canberra in 2060 will look, feel and be very different to the city we live in today.
Work is already underway across the government to understand the risks associated with climate change and identify ways in which the ACT can adapt to climate changes and reduce the potentially undesirable impacts. The government’s Weathering the change draft action plan 2 takes up that challenge proposing five possible pathways towards zero net emissions by 2060. Those pathways present different means to use a range of reduction strategies: energy efficient buildings, sustainable transport, sustainable waste policies, the use of renewable energy, gas-generated electricity and the use of carbon offsets.
The government has strongly involved the community through the development of draft action plan 2 on the best means to implement and manage the transition to climate change. That community input has added real value to the government’s consideration of the best option. The five pathways identified in the draft action plan have been supported by comprehensive whole-of-government strategies that will guide how we live, work and recreate in our city now and into the future. Like many cities, Canberra is facing the global challenges posed by population growth, climate change, energy and food security. To ensure our long-term environmental, economic and social security we need to make difficult decisions and take action now.
The government’s overarching strategy for ensuring the sustainable and viable future of our city is its new ACT planning strategy. That strategy will seek to establish how the territory and city will develop into the future to meet the aspirations of the community and the environmental, social and economic challenges of this century. The strategy will seek to build on Canberra’s existing strengths to help it and the region address the challenges and to manage future issues.
One of those strengths is its existing metropolitan structure that has built strong communities and which can support urban intensification focused on centres and along transport corridors. It also has a strong knowledge and service-based economy—a clean industry that can be an important base from which to diversify and attract families, businesses and services. It is the heart of a diverse and vibrant region that offers many opportunities for education, specialist services to government, clean technology, digital enterprises and the creative sector as well as tourism, food production and the potential to generate renewable energy and support technologies that do so.
Those strengths will help us adapt to change and to address our long-term sustainability and liveability but they will require us to change and adapt as a
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