The Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury has used World Environment Day this week (5 June) to reflect on the ACT’s achievements as a world leader in sustainability and climate action.
“This current generation has an environmental, economic and moral obligation to do our best to tackle the threats posed by climate change,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“Our actions are having a big impact here in the ACT, as well as influencing other Australian — and international — jurisdictions … because our actions are both ambitious and achievable.”
He said achievements over the past year included setting a nation-leading target of zero emissions by 2045, progressing towards 100 per cent renewable electricity, and releasing the Transition to Zero Emissions Vehicle Action Plan 2018–2021.
“The ACT Government’s $25 million Next Generation Energy Storage Program has supported the rollout of 580 more household battery storage systems, and more than 400 participating households took part in a trial of the world’s largest residential ‘virtual power plant’,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“More than 3,100 households have been supported to improve their energy efficiency and sustainability by participating in Actsmart household programs and more than 2,000 Canberra businesses received energy-efficient lighting upgrades through the Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme, which is saving an average of $57 per week off their energy bills.”
He said his Directorate was also supporting community action through a range of projects under the Community Zero Emissions Grants Program.
