The ACT Budget will include $29.8 million for climate action, household energy support, environment programs, water-saving upgrades, and biosecurity.

The government will extend rebates under the Home Energy Support Program, helping homeowners pay for rooftop solar and energy-efficient upgrades such as hot water systems, ceiling insulation, and reverse-cycle heating and cooling.

The Renters’ Home Energy Advice Program will continue, providing free, tailored advice from energy assessors.

The government says the Home Energy Support Program has saved households more than $15 million and provided rebates of $4.5 million to 1,800 households since it launched in 2022.

The Sustainable Household Scheme loan cap will rise to $20,000 for new participants. From September, Canberrans will also be able to use the Scheme to buy electric cargo bikes, as well as energy-efficient products and new or used electric vehicles.

The Budget will provide additional funding for community environment groups, including ACT Wildlife, the National Parks Association, and Landcare ACT.

The ACT Environment Grants program will also be expanded, with a new weed control category.

Other measures include water-savings upgrades in schools, homes, businesses and public facilities, and extra funding for biosecurity, including a response team, incident management systems, and vehicles.

More than $10 million will go towards finalising and delivering a new Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, expected to be released in coming months.

Conservation Council

The Conservation Council of the ACT Region welcomed the ACT Government’s 2026-27 Budget announcement to fund community environment initiatives.

“An uplift in funding to support community groups to deliver biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection projects is a great investment in our nature,” executive director Dr Simon Copland said.

“We are especially pleased to see funding flow directly to some of our hardworking member groups, including Landcare ACT, ACT Wildlife, and the National Parks Association of the ACT. These volunteer-powered organisations do critically important work to protect native wildlife and restore our environment across the ACT.

“This Budget recognises that community groups and their volunteers are the lifeblood of conservation in our region, and provides them with operational certainty into the future. You can’t do long-term conservation on a short-term budget.”

The Conservation Council had flagged urgent concerns about funding cliffs for invasive species management and biosecurity programs in its pre-budget submission.

“Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our region’s biodiversity, and we’re relieved the Government has listened to our concerns,” Dr Copland said. “Continuing to fund a biosecurity response team and introducing a new community weeds grant category to the ACT Environmental Grants Program are strong steps in the right direction.”

The Council said that finalising the next ACT Climate Change Strategy, extending rebates available under the Home Energy Support Program, continuing the Renters’ Home Energy Advice Program, and expanding the Sustainable Household Scheme by increasing the cap on the scheme to $20,000 and including electric cargo bikes were “really important investments in supporting the ACT’s net zero transition”.

The Council will “continue to push the Government to ensure that their investment is proportionate to the scale of the climate emergency,” Dr Copland said. “We look forward to receiving further details on these investments and the release of the next ACT Climate Change Strategy.”

ACT Greens responses

The ACT Greens said their advocacy for bold and strategic action on the climate and environment plan was instrumental in making the reforms announced today happen. 

The Greens welcome this investment, alongside recent cost-of-living and energy reforms, and said they would continue to push for bold, fair climate action that delivers real outcomes for Canberrans. 

Andrew Braddock MLA’s motion on 5 May 2025 called on the ACT Government in the middle of a fuel supply crisis to support Canberrans to replace fossil fuelled cars with electric vehicles, cargo bikes and e-scooters.

“Canberrans were clear: they expect bold, decisive climate action, and the Greens made sure their voices were heard,” Mr Braddock said. “In the middle of a fuel supply crisis, Canberrans are looking for ACT Government help to ditch fossil-fuelled cars and electrify their transport.

“Today, we’re seeing the Government adopt those calls. This will help Canberrans to reduce not only their emissions but also stretched household transport budgets.”

The Greens also welcomed increased environmental funding, including strengthened support for environmental organisations, such as bodies Landcare and the National Parks Association; expanded weed management; and a boost to environmental grants. However, the Greens said the government must invest in more ACT rangers and environmental volunteer groups.

“If we fail to properly fund environmental protection now, we will see the impacts in declining ecosystem health, and harm to our native plants and wildlife in both the short and long term.

“Canberra is fortunate to have a strong network of environmental organisations with deep, on-the-ground expertise

“Canberrans really value our wildlife and the uplift in funding for ACT Wildlife will allow them to continue their vital work, including employing a part time dedicated wildlife vet.”

The Greens said they would watch closely when the government announces the “overdue” Climate Strategy to ensure “it delivers the same calibre of vision and action achieved under the previous Strategy, led by Greens climate minister Shane Rattenbury”.