Page 3658 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 September 2019
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demonstrated in the ACT. These tangible benefits are well documented and are encouraging other jurisdictions to make such transitions.
The threat of climate change is imminent and undeniable. People from around the world are mobilising to send the message that we need to act and we need strong leadership. As many of us in this chamber are aware, the global climate strike is happening tomorrow. It is timed to occur three days before the UN climate crisis summit. People from around the world are striking in order to send a clear message to our world leaders that they must commit to immediate and decisive action on climate change.
Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting young activists who represented the Canberra school strikers for climate action. Whenever I meet young climate activists I am struck by how energised they are to take action on climate change. They understand the problem and they want to work on the solution. There are many wonderful and passionate people who need our government to do the right thing and take strong action on combatting climate change. And I personally will be joining students tomorrow at the climate strike and hope to see many in this chamber there with me.
In conclusion, I am incredibly proud to be part of our ACT Labor government. We are the leaders in taking up technology and innovation and in responding to challenges in an effective and just way, and our successful transition to renewable energy is a perfect example of this. I look forward to continuing to engage with our community and work towards a smarter, healthier, zero net emission future.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (3.10): We can all stand up today and agree that 100 per cent renewables are important and that, here in the ACT, we accept the science of climate change. The Canberra Liberals have always had a strong position on the environment. In 1997 the then minister for the environment, Gary Humphries, announced that the ACT government would work towards reducing the territory’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2018, at that time an ambitious and bold step.
In the last Assembly, I, as shadow minister for the environment, announced that the Canberra Liberals would form part of the tripartisan support for the targets of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020 and zero net emissions by 2050. Of course, that target has since been moved forward. That commitment has been reaffirmed in this place many times by my colleague Elizabeth Lee during this term, in her role as shadow minister for the environment, and she would do it again today if she were not on leave.
I am proud to state again that the Canberra Liberals are committed to both the achievement and maintenance of the 100 per cent renewables target in the ACT and achieving zero net emissions by 2045. It is important that we lead the way. Due to our size and comparative density, we have a lot of benefits that other jurisdictions simply cannot match in achieving these goals. The people of Canberra have a passion for sustainable practices, and many have the ability to afford to take them up.
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