Page 85 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 25 February 2014
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Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act—Climate Change Council annual report 2012-13
Paper and statement by minister
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development): For the information of members I present the following paper:
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, pursuant to subsection 15(3)—Minister’s annual reports 2012-2013.
I ask leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.
Leave granted.
MR CORBELL: Today I bring to the Assembly the third annual report on actions taken in exercising the functions under the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010. As the responsible minister, I am required to report on a number of functions under the act on a financial year basis. These include, but are not limited to, issues relating to climate change; promoting action to meet the ACT’s greenhouse gas emission targets; developing, adopting or promoting policies and programs relating to climate change; consulting business and community entities about issues relating to climate change; and supporting public education about climate change.
2012-13 was a very significant year for action on climate change in the ACT. It marked the release of AP2, a new climate change strategy and action plan for the ACT, a road map document that guides how the ACT will achieve its legislated greenhouse gas reduction targets. These targets reflect the urgency for advanced economies and cities, such as those we enjoy here, to make deep emission cuts and embrace the opportunities offered by smart and sustainable economic development.
The government’s climate change policy AP2 provides the framework for this change. We will adopt renewable energy alternatives like wind and solar projects both here and in the capital region, achieving 90 per cent of our energy need sources from renewables by the year 2020. Through our transformative investments in public transport we can help reduce traffic emissions and boost urban amenity and economic efficiency. Our focus on energy efficiency in homes and buildings demonstrates that reducing carbon emissions can and does save Canberrans money on their energy bills. These are areas where, over the coming seven years, these deep cuts in emissions will occur.
In parallel to the release of AP2, the 2012-13 financial year also marked the commencement of a number of projects critically important to achieving our greenhouse gas reduction targets, including the first release of capacity under the large-scale solar auction, the commencement of the energy efficiency improvement scheme and the progress of the government’s commitment to carbon neutrality in its own operations.
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