CANBERRA
40%

Source: http://transport.act.gov.au/studies_projects/northbourne_study.html

Community climate change group Canberra Loves 40% today welcomed the announced release of the Civic-Gungahlin transport study as an opportunity for parties to show their commitment to public transport this election.

Canberra Loves 40% joined with 6 leading environment groups in early March calling for all parties to commit to a $200m commitment to the first stage of light rail, kicking off a transformation of Canberra’s transport system, this election.  Canberra Loves 40% maintain that large public transport investments are essential to creating a Canberra of the future; modern, liveable, and zero emissions.

“This study will give us a cost estimate for a stage of Light Rail in Canberra, and already our leaders are showing concerns about the cost.  It makes no sense to shy away from investing in public transport infrastructure.  We all know we need to spend money to maintain our city.  We spend to maintain and extend our road network.  Light rail is an investment that will transform our transport system, giving Canberrans a zero emissions travel option,” Ms Howe continued.

“Public transport is an essential piece of our emissions reduction puzzle.  Along with renewable energy and energy efficiency, it is one of the best investments we can make to reduce our city’s impact on the environment if done right.  It is a win-win for the environment and our community, and making our city a better place to live,” Canberra Loves 40% spokesperson Phoebe Howe said.

Light rail will be a central issue for all Canberrans this election, and Canberra Loves 40% will be engaging people across Canberra to let our leaders know that it’s time for action.  Gungahlin to Civic can only be a first step to a transport system that works for all.

“Canberrans want a real commitment, with a dollar figure, to public transport this election.  It’s time to move on from a public transport system that doesn’t work and invest in a new Canberra.  This is an exciting first step: Tuggeranong, Woden and Belconnen all need reliable, effective public transport to make Canberra a fantastic city for the future.”

“Imagine being able to head to Tuggeranong Arts Centre to catch a show on Saturday night, and get back home to Gungahlin before midnight without spending a fortune.  It’s time for all parties to show us their vision for Canberra,” Ms Howe concluded.

Canberra Loves 40% and SEE-Change have partnered to host the Centenary Square Ideas design competition.

This competition is aimed at University and High School students, with a minimum prize pool of $1 000!  We are asking designers to take on the heart of the city, between the Melbourne and Sydney buildings, and create a new plaza that reflects a vision of a modern, sustainable city.

Imagine pedestrians and cyclists able to freely enjoy a public space, where cars separately, safely and quickly travel through the centre.  Imagine integrated public transport in the centre, a new hub for transit, business and community.

Let your imagination loose and show us what this new Canberra icon, Centenary Square, could look like!

Check out all the details here:  Centenary Square Ideas Competition-Details

Canberra’s environment groups are working together in 2012 to call for strong leadership and action this year to lay foundations for a Smarter Canberra.

Smarter Buildings:  warm in winter, cool in summer

Introduction and passage of energy efficiency savings legislation by 30 June 2012 with support of all parties.  This legislation must be ambitious, wide reaching and have scope to be adjusted and improved over time.

All parties commit to the implementation of a framework for zero carbon standards for new buildings by 2016.

Smarter Energy: securing modern energy for Canberra

All parties commit to 100% renewable energy for the ACT by 2020, through a combination of new renewable generation in the ACT and Australian Capital Region, GreenPower purchase, and community ownership options for renewable energy.

Smarter Transport:  connecting Canberra

All parties have an election commitment for a fast, reliable, affordable public transport system that connects all of Canberra. Parties will show commitment to this transport transition through $200m towards stage one of a light rail rapid transport line, including identifying the route and the engineering requirements by the election, with stage one completed by 2015.

Download the overview strategy: Build a Smarter Canberra-FINAL-2.2

Email info@love40percent.org if you would like to get involved.

It’s here!  Collaborating with the Conservation Council ACT Region, SEE-Change, the Canberra Environment and Sustainability Resource Centre and Climate Action Canberra, Canberra Loves 40% will be launching ‘Build a Smarter Canberra’ this weekend.

Join us this Sunday 25th March 11.30am for a free BBQ lunch and local music from Rafe Morris, Hayley Shone and Drew Walky!  We want to thank the ACT environment community for their fantastic volunteer efforts in transforming Canberra, and invite the wider community to hear all about what we are up to for 2012.

We will announce our key areas of action for 2012, including public transport, energy efficiency and renewable energy.  This election year is the time to let our leaders know we want real action to get started on our 40% target.  Come along and show your support for real actions to reduce our emissions and bring other benefits to the ACT in this year’s election.

Please RSVP if you can - http://buildasmartercanberralaunch.eventbrite.com/

We look forward to seeing you there!

We have a lot of work to do in 2012.  We’ve got big plans for making this election year the year that all of Canberra’s leaders took an effective, positive stand on climate change and a smarter future for our city.

If we raise our voices for effective, positive action instead of endless debate and point scoring, we can let our leaders know they need to catch up.

Canberra Loves 40% is going to be taking a stand for Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Public Transport.  We’ll be standing for real commitments this election to enable us to reach our 40% target.

If you’d like to be involved, come along to our next meeting, where we’ll be unveiling our plan for 2012.

When:   Thursday March 15, 6pm

Where:  The Canberra Environment and Sustainability Resource Centre

               Corner Lennox and Lawson Crescent ACTON

What:    Hear about our strategy for 2012, and find out how you can support us, refreshments provided

There will be plenty of ways you can get involved in issues that matter to you.  Our leaders need to know we want real action.  With a strong community voice, Canberra is capable of leading the nation in demonstrating that action on climate change is nothing to be afraid of.

Please RSVP by Wednesday 14 March to info@love40percent.org so we can arrange refreshments for you.

Late in 2011, the ACT Government launched ‘ Weathering the Change Action Plan II‘, its policy outlining options to reach the 40% target for 2020, and setting up the foundations to becoming carbon neutral by 2060.

The policy presents five pathways to reach 40%, that present a mix of different actions we can take.

The Government is now calling for comments on its pathways, to help Canberra make the best choice for its future.  They are inviting written submissions, and will hold public consultations, as well as inviting online comments on the ‘Time to Talk” website.

It’s time to make a big decision for Canberra.  How will we invest in our future?  What is the smartest way to spend now, to secure our city’s clean future?

The action strategies the Government are exploring are:

• Energy Efficient Buildings – Increasing the effective use of electricity in our buildings through measures like insulation, modern design with energy use in mind, improved water heating systems.
• Sustainable Transport – Reducing use of private vehicles by encouraging other forms of transport, and reducing emissions from current vehicles.
• Sustainable Waste – Creating energy from municipal waste, such as capturing gas from natural waste breakdown processes.
• Renewable Energy – Investing in wind generation, most likely outside of the ACT, to cover Canberra’s energy needs.
• Gas Fired Electricity Generation – Installing a gas-fired energy generation facility within the ACT.
• Carbon Offsets – Purchasing offsets in carbon sequestration or other emissions-reduction activities elsewhere, to account for emissions in Canberra.

The pathways are a range of different combinations of these actions, each calculated to achieve a 40% reduction in emissions by 2020:

1. Renewable Energy – This pathway is a big investment in wind power, with a small amount of offsets to cover our transport and waste emissions.  It does not focus on any changes to saving energy in the ACT, or changing our transport system.
2. Buildings, transport, waste and renewable energy – This pathway takes a mix of actions, to both reduce our use of energy, as well as create new renewable energy for us to use.  It focuses on increasing energy efficiency, and increasing public transport use, walking and cycling.  It includes investing in a waste system that creates renewable energy, and still invests in a significant amount on wind power.
3. Buildings, transport, waste, offsets and Gas fired power – This pathway is similar to pathway 2, with a mix of actions.  However instead of renewable energy, it relies on investing in a gas fired power plant within the ACT.  It also requires the purchase of some offsets, as Gas still produces greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Buildings, transport, waste and offsets – This pathway concentrates on changes to our city in transport and energy use, but instead of generating cleaner power, simply purchases offsets.
5. Offsets only – This pathway relies on purchasing offsets alone, without any efforts to increase energy efficiency, reduce transport emissions, or generate power.  This means all behaviour remains ‘business as usual’, we simply pay someone else to undertake activities to reduce emissions somewhere else.

Each pathway is costed by comparing the price of each venture, creating a $ per tonne of emissions saved.  These relative costs are included in ‘Weathering the Change Action Plan II‘.

A lot of important questions need to be answered:

Which pathway is the best value for money?   For example, if we invest in cheaper Gas power now, we will have to phase it out before 2050.  Would it be better to invest in renewables for the long term?

What kind of impact will each pathway have on our city?  For example, if we simply purchase offsets, or wind power from across the border, are we missing out on new jobs for our economy?   And if we invest in energy efficiency and public transport, can we save on household bills by reducing costs on power and petrol?

Are there any action strategies that haven’t been included?  For example, could we use this opportunity to invest in light rail, or proper bus infrastructure removing buses from peak hour traffic?  Can we use more solar power, or other renewable energy sources?  How does the Government’s transport, energy, and other policies connect to ‘Weathering the Change Action Plan II’?

And most importantly, which pathway creates a city we can love to live in?  A city with clean air, modern transport, comfortable buildings, and jobs for the future?

Jump online to join the debate, email climatechange@act.gov.au for more details, and get to know the options.  Then, have your say.  With the support of the community, of business and the organisations that make up Canberra, this is a window of opportunity to make a smart decision for the future of Canberra.

Canberra Loves 40% will be working hard to encourage input from different organisations, businesses and individuals, to ensure we make the most of this opportunity with the best ideas from our community.  ’Weathering the Change Action Plan II’ shows that, through taking on an ambitious challenge, we can come up with the ideas that tackle climate change.

There’s work to be done.  Let us know what you think, and let the Government know what you want.

After our successful forum, we need to swing into action here at Canberra Loves 40%.  If you’d like to be involved over the next year, come along to our next meeting:

Wednesday 7 December, 6-7.30pm at the Environment Centre Cnr Lawson Crescent and Lennox Crossing (TBC).

This meeting will let you know more about who we are and how we work, and brainstorm some strategies for the next 12 months.  With an upcoming election and a range of policies stewing or now released, there’s plenty of scope to interact with the Legislative Assembly.  There’s also a range of businesses and industry groups as well as community representatives we could work with.  Bring along your ideas and suggestions, be creative and share your vision of what Canberra can do to reach its 40% target.

Hope to see you there!

Our forum on Wednesday 27 November was packed out with standing room only.  It could have been the amazing food, supplied generously by local suppliers and prepared by volunteer Chef and crew, or it could have been the fantastic high quality debate brought to the room by our audience.

Either way, our leaders are listening again.  Canberrans know we’re living in a smart city with access to innovative ideas and the will to act.  Our city can lead the way in emissions reductions that can add to our quality of life.

Big issues raised were questions around the ability for small-scale solar generation to push the move to renewable electricity supply for Canberra, the roll out of retro-fitting and other energy efficiency measures for houses in the ACT, and of course public transport!  With interesting responses from Minister Corbell about plans to transform the way energy efficiency is to be pushed in the ACT, and the light rail question still under discussion, as well as upcoming large-scale solar approvals in the new year, we are waiting for the commitment to action in ‘Weathering the Change Action Plan II’.

When asked if the modelling guiding the Governments plans equalled a 40% reduction by 2020, the Minister answered ‘yes’!  Now it’s time to turn the plans into action.

Our public forum on Wednesday 23 November will be the next step in letting our leaders know we want change.

We would like this forum to be a huge event, and we could use your help to ensure it is a success.

We are calling for volunteers to put in a few hours to assist with promotion with our fliers, assisting with setup and pack up on the day, and odd jobs to assist our media promotion.  If you could spare some time in the lead up to our forum, or on the day, please contact us at info@love40percent.org.  

If you have never worked with us before, this is a great way to get to know our group, and to make a big impact with a small time commitment.  Email us and let us know:

- What dates you might be available (eg. on November 23, the week prior, or the day prior – you don’t need to be too exact)

- How much time you would be able to offer.

- Any preferences (eg. dropping posters and fliers around your local shops, workplace, university, or in the city.  Assisting with media calls on the day, setup or packup at the event, welcoming and seating attendees on the day.)

We will get back to you right away.  Canberra Loves 40% is a community organisation, and your support sends a strong message about Canberrans’ commitment to our city and reducing our emissions.  If you have further questions, please get in touch at info@love40percent.org .