ACT Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Shane Rattenbury, today hosted the National Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council meeting in Canberra, sharing the ACT’s strategy to tackle climate change and achieve net zero emissions by 2045.
Minister Rattenbury said that it was imperative that all jurisdictions commit to increased climate change action and that the gathering of national Ministers was a key opportunity to address the nation’s biggest environmental challenge.
“I was delighted to host my Commonwealth, State and Territory colleagues in Canberra and to highlight the nation-leading efforts the ACT is making in mitigating climate change,” Minister Rattenbury said.
“The ACT’s leading policies include:
- A pathway to full electrification of the ACT, phasing out fossil-fuel gas;
- The highest uptake of electric vehicles in the country, bolstered by extensive support programs. One in five new car sales in the ACT are now an EV. We have 165 electric vehicle charging bays powered by 136 public chargers and will meet our commitment of 180 public chargers by 2025.
- Nation-leading schemes and incentives, such as the Sustainable Household Scheme and the Home Energy Support Program, which have already helped thousands of households to transition to efficient electric appliances. Our online tool, created in partnership with CHOICE, is helping Canberrans to make their own energy transition plans.
Minister Rattenbury said he appreciated the efforts being made by jurisdictions on climate change, however he highlighted that inconsistent and detrimental actions were undermining the good work.
“There remains an inescapable truth, which this forum needs to address. Governments must stop approving new fossil fuel projects, whether coal or gas. This ongoing contribution to the burning of fossil fuels risks jeopardising our efforts on climate change.
“The International Energy Agency has clearly spelled out the reality that new fossil fuel projects are incompatible with the planetary goal of keeping the global average temperature increase below 1.5C, yet Australian Governments continue to approve new gas and coal projects.
“The defence that ‘we have to supply the market’ makes no sense in this country, where we are blessed with wind and solar energy potential that could make us a global clean energy powerhouse if we act fast and with high ambition.
“These counter-productive fossil fuel policies are taking us in the wrong direction and are profoundly frustrating for Canberrans, and Australians, who are playing their part in the battle to prevent climate change.”
