Page 5114 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018
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Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, pursuant to subsection 15(3)—Minister's annual report 2017-18.
I ask leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.
Leave granted.
MR RATTENBURY: I am pleased to table the 2017-18 minister’s annual report under section 15 of the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010. This report is coordinated annually by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate with input from all ACT directorates.
This report sets out the actions taken in 2017-18 by the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability under the act, the effectiveness of government actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the findings of a cost-benefit analysis of government policies and programs implemented to meet the climate change targets in the act. In addition, within the minister’s annual report I present a summary of greenhouse gas emissions from all ACT government operations for 2017-18.
Section 15 of the act requires the minister to table this coordinated report within six months of the end of each financial year. Today I present this report for members’ information.
This year I am pleased to report that in May 2018, the ACT government committed to adopting a new target of achieving net zero emissions by 2045, as well as a series of interim targets to ensure that we stay on track with meeting the 2045 net zero emissions target. Our target is the most ambitious of any Australian state or territory and among the most ambitious climate change targets internationally. As you will be aware, the net zero and interim emissions targets were legislated in September.
We undertook a comprehensive community consultation process around the development of the ACT’s next climate strategy. Engagement activities during the consultation period included stakeholder roundtables; community drop-in sessions at local libraries; stalls at major events such as the Canberra Show, Multicultural Festival and university open days; and presentations at local community council meetings. More than 2,000 suggestions covering more than 900 distinct ideas were received during consultation and are currently being considered by the government for potential inclusion in the new strategy.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report that all directorates have continued to embrace the move to increased energy efficiency in their operations, and many are including renewable electricity generation at their sites.
At the National Arboretum, a new off-grid solar photovoltaic and battery storage system was installed in February 2018 to replace a large diesel generator operated at the horticulture works depot. A 24-kilowatt rooftop solar PV system was installed at the Belconnen parks depot. Rooftop solar was installed at the Gungahlin and Tuggeranong child and family centres, as well as CIT Fyshwick.
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