While federal Labor continues approving more coal and gas, the Greens are providing real climate leadership, making a campaign promise to step up ambition for a rapid and just transition to net zero emissions in the ACT.
“The Greens have been a governing party in the ACT longer than the Liberals ever have, and it shows,” said Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt.
“The only place in Australia with 100 percent renewable electricity and a ban on new gas connections is the only place in Australia with Greens in government. That’s no coincidence.
“We know ACT Labor would never have taken such strong climate action without the Greens, because they haven’t done it anywhere else in the country.
“People in the ACT have empowered the Greens to deliver real climate leadership that’s cut emissions, kept your power bills among the lowest in the country and shown everyone that it’s all possible, if you vote for it,” Mr Bandt said.
“The ACT is different to the rest of the country,” said ACT Greens Leader, Shane Rattenbury. “We’re progressive, we look after each other, and we take the climate crisis seriously.
“This election we’re promising to step up ambition on climate change, reduce energy costs for households, to show other governments what’s possible and improve the everyday lives of Canberrans.
“We’ve got to make sure the cost of living crisis, which is an inequality crisis, doesn’t hold people back from taking the climate action they want to take.
“For 5000 of the lowest income households in Canberra, we’re going to completely cover the cost of switching from gas to efficient electric appliances, so people can cut their bills and be more comfortable at home.
“We’re going to take on the challenge of ensuring renters and people who live in apartments aren’t left behind.
“We’re going to make the most of all the new jobs and new opportunities that are already flowing as we build the ACT’s clean, green future together,” said Mr Rattenbury.
The ACT Greens will:
- Fully fund gas-to-electric upgrades for 5,000 of the lowest income households
- Deliver pilot projects to demonstrate all-electric apartment solutions to help extend the benefits of electrifying to Canberrans who live in apartments
- Only allow the installation of electric appliances from 2027 in order to phase out gas
- Establish a nation-leading Electrify Canberra Skills Hub at CIT
- Increase the pace of change by accelerating the ACT’s emissions reduction targets
- Ensure the ACT’s scope 3 emissions (which originate outside the ACT) are declining from 2028 onwards
- Deliver an extra 300MW of battery storage in the ACT
- Improve travel for Canberrans and take on the ACT’s biggest polluter — transport — by making huge improvements to buses and light rail, the path network, and support for more people to choose an electric vehicle.
The Greens’ Laura Nuttall is the first Gen Z Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and is recontesting her Tuggeranong seat of Brindabella. She says the importance of the climate crisis hasn’t lessened for young people, in the face of the housing crisis and the cost of living.
“I think a lot of young people watch politicians very closely when it comes to climate change, because what you’re handling is our future,” said Ms Nuttall.
“Having now worked as an elected member for the past 9 months, I’ve seen how insidious the establishment can be at trying to get people to give up and resign themselves to business as usual. It’s worse than I thought.
“Business as usual gave us a climate crisis, it ain’t gonna fix it. The ACT Greens are the only party pushing far enough, fast enough to actually make a dent in the climate crisis.”
“We understand the concept of duty of care, and when it comes to climate change, that duty of care rests squarely on the shoulders of those in charge. What young people need is for the government to be as ambitious as it takes to avoid climate catastrophe.
“According to Orygen, 65% of young Australians feel anxious about climate change – I’m definitely one of them. 60.6% feel also powerless, but I want to assure them we can make a difference, and that taking real and decisive climate action is possible.”
“In economic conditions that are far more hostile towards young people than they have been towards previous generations, we haven’t had the same chance to establish ourselves or start earning comfortably.
“We want to be active participants in fighting climate change, but it would be deeply unfair on us to have to bear the economic brunt of decisions made, before our time, about our future. That’s why I’m really glad the ACT Greens are committing to more measures to support low-income households, and extend our support to apartment dwellers,” said Ms Nuttall.
More information on today’s announcement is available on the ACT Greens website, where you can also find related announcements on public transport and electric vehicles. Further climate policy announcements are still to come.