Climate change
We are facing a climate emergency. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said that we need to turn around increasing rates of greenhouse emissions in the next 12 years to keep global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius and to give us any chance of a safe climate.
In Canberra we have taken strong action on climate change, moving from coal-fired power to electricity generated by solar and wind. By 2020, Canberra’s electricity will be 100% renewable.
There is still work to do on transport and gas emissions to deliver a carbon-neutral city. And we need to ensure that our city is resilient in the face of the challenges that our changing climate will bring.
ACT community petition — No new gas for Canberra
Gas is a dirty polluting fossil fuel. To reach our emissions targets, and build a safe climate, the ACT needs to get off gas. With the ACT running on 100% renewable electricity, running clean energy houses is easier than ever. A national leader, the ACT has committed to zero net emissions by 2045, and our Climate Change Strategy commits to getting off gas by 2045.
BUT, Evoenergy is continuing to roll out the gas network to new suburbs, and expand their customer base over the next 5 years. The ACT Government has made no moves to stop the gas network expansion, despite this being the cheapest and easiest way to reduce emissions over the next 5 years.
I call on the ACT Government to:
- Immediately remove the existing mandate for gas infrastructure in new developments in the ACT.
- Stop the roll out of new gas networks in all new suburbs.
- Stop all newly constructed residences from joining the gas network.
Read the Conservation Council’s Submission to the ACT Government Sustainable Energy Policy 2021-2025 and our media release.
Our climate action news
MEDIA RELEASE: Climate emergency calls for urgent action on ACT’s gas emissions
5 December 2019 MEDIA RELEASE Climate emergency calls for urgent action on ACT's gas emissions The Conservation Council ACT Region has today lauched a petition calling on the ACT Government to speed up its phase out of gas and immediately stop the roll out of gas...
Media release: Community petition shows support for active travel
26 November 2019 MEDIA RELEASE A community petition calling on the ACT Government to implement key measures that will support viable active travel options for Canberrans to walk, cycle and use public transport, was tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly today. The...
ACT Sustainable Energy Policy Submission 2020-25
The Conservation Council welcomed the opportunity to comment on the ACT Sustainable Energy Policy 2020-2025. The Conservation Council supports the strong stand the ACT Government has taken over the past ten years to address energy in the context of rising energy...
ACT Budget 2020/21 Submission
In May 2019, the ACT Legislative Assembly declared a state of climate emergency noting that “globally, nationally and locally, human induced climate change is contributing to record breaking temperatures, extreme weather events, and a range of negative social,...
Active Travel – Sign the Petition!
The Conservation Council ACT Region, Pedal Power and Living Streets Canberra have launched a community petition calling on the ACT Government to take strong action to show they are serious about dealing with our climate emergency. implement key measures that will improve travel options for Canberrans who walk, cycle and use public transport.
Media release: Conservation Council calls on ACT Government to stop roll out of gas to new suburbs
The Conservation Council ACT Region has called on the ACT Government to stop the roll out of gas infrastructure to new suburbs to ensure policy consistency as the ACT aims for net zero emission by 2045.
Was this really a Budget for a climate emergency?
Our thoughts on the ACT Budget: it looks too much like business as usual rather than responding to a climate emergency.
Moving Canberra – Integrated Transport Strategy
The Government’s Integrated Transport Strategy had lots of great ideas, but lacked the objectives and targets it needed to set out a clear pathway to improve public and active transport.
The gas challenge up for discussion
Gas was a hot topic at the Environment Exchange in March – in cold Canberra, how do we get off the gas so that we can cut our greenhouse emissions further over the next decade?