The ACT Greens have promised to “step up ambition for a rapid and just transition” to net zero emissions.

The ACT Greens would:

• Fully fund gas-to-electric upgrades for 5,000 of the lowest income households
• Deliver pilot projects to demonstrate all-electric apartment solutions
• To phase out gas, only allow electric appliances to be installed from 2027
• Establish a nation-leading Electrify Canberra Skills Hub at CIT
• Accelerate the ACT’s emissions reduction targets: net zero emissions by 2040, rather than the current target of 2045
• Ensure the ACT’s scope 3 emissions (which originate outside the ACT) decline 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 improving buses and light rail, paths, and support for more people to buy electric vehicles.

For more information, visit 2024 Initiative – Real Climate Leadership (greens.org.au).

“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,” ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said.

“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 5,000 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.

Laura Nuttall, the first Gen Z MLA, says the importance of the climate crisis has not lessened for young people, in the face of the housing crisis and the cost of living.

“A lot of young people watch politicians very closely when it comes to climate change, because what you’re handling is our future,” Ms Nuttall said.  

“Having now worked as an elected member for the past nine 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 per cent of young Australians feel anxious about climate change – I’m definitely one of them. 60.6 per cent 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.”