It was no small feat to win a 40% emissions target from our government. But in a very real sense, that was the easy part. Now we must make sure that our elected representatives follow through and actually implement policies that get us to the target. The target must be taken into account when all new legislation is drafted. Among upcoming bills, by far the most important will be the energy policy that the Government will soon be releasing. Initial signs are that this contains some very good elements as well as some not quite so good elements. We will be meeting Tuesday 28th September, 6:30pm in room G08 of the Moran building at ANU to discuss what this policy means for us and what we should be doing about it. We would strongly encourage anyone interested in the future of energy in the ACT, especially those who are connected to our burgeoning green economy to come along to this meeting.
Of course, as well as keeping the pressure on our elected representatives it is also important that we keep spreading the 40% message in the community, and what better way to spread that message than by wearing one of our beautiful Canberra ♥ 40% T-shirts. We now have these T-shirts for sale online via paypal. If you’ve been coveting one of these T-shirts, now is the time to buy one.
Finally, our wonderful friends over at the Canberra Environment and Sustainability Resource Centre are running a Sustainability Challenge in October. So why no challenge yourself and see if you can reduce your own emissions by 40%?
Although both Labor and the Greens have come out in support of a 40% target for the ACT, the Liberals, at present, only support a 30% target. Although Labor and the Greens together have the numbers to guarantee that the bill will be passed through the Legislative Assembly, we think that it is vital that such an important piece of territory-building legislation – legislation which will drive innovation and the green economy in our city over the next decade – receives tri-partisan support. This is why we are asking you all to please pick up your paper and pencil once more and to write a letter to Zed Seselja, the Liberal leader and climate change shadow minister. Zed needs to be congratulated on the important leadership he has shown by supporting a 30% target and encouraged to take one step further and support the legislation for a 40% reduction.
Frank Jotzo, a senior lecturer at the ANU Crawford School of Economics and Policy, and Deputy Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute, writing recently in the Canberra Times reminded us all why this is such an important issue.
The ACT has the chance to show that a shift to renewable energy can be done at moderate cost, and quite possibly with broader economic benefits. In that way, it could make a real difference nationally, where the climate change debate sorely needs vision and concrete examples of the shift to a low-carbon economy. Combined with strong programs for energy efficiency and more sustainable transport, large investments in local renewable energy could turn the ACT into a model for how to run an economy in a carbon-constrained world a small one with somewhat unusual characteristics, but with a powerful demonstration effect nevertheless. If ACT emissions can be halved by 2020, that would be an impressive achievement. And the local economy may well benefit from “the vision thing”. An image of Canberra as clean as well as clever could help attract modern service industries, and nourish research and teaching at the local universities.
Zed Seselja can be contacted by writing to:
Zed Seselja
ACT Legislative Assembly,
GPO Box 1020,
CANBERRA,
ACT 2601.
or by emailing seselja@parliament.act.gov.au. Alternatively his fax number is 6205 3001 and his phone number is 6205 0323.
Well, the 40% milestone has been won. But what happens next? A target is nothing without a solid plan for how to reach it. Winning was just the beginning. Canberra ♥ 40% will be here to make sure a fantastic action plan for Canberra is developed over the next year. What are your visions for Canberra? Light rail? Up to date new buildings that create power rather than create energy bills? A top notch cycle system that keeps bikes off roads but gets you there faster than a car? Warm houses in winter? We want to know where you, the community, think that Canberra should be heading. Leave us a comment or reply to info@love40percent.org with your vision of Canberra in 2020 and where the Canberra ♥ 40% campaign should go from here.
One thing we’ve learned from this campaign is that the Government needs to hear from us. So don’t just share your ideas with us, tell the government as well! 40% will be a big part of our shared future, and right now the Government is asking for the community’s vision of Canberra in 2030. Over the next few weeks they will be conducting three community workshops where you can share your hopes and dreams for our city.
Workshop 1: Monday 20 September in Central Canberra
Workshop 2: Wednesday 22 September in Woden
Workshop 3: Wednesday 22 September in Belconnen
Although registration is free you must RSVP in advance. More information can be found here. If you can’t attend any of the workshops, you can still be involved by completing the survey. Just remember to mention how important actually achieving the 40% target will be.
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