Page 4033 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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reviewed independently by Aither Consulting. By way of background, Aither were contracted to:
• Assess the effectiveness of the Act in achieving its objects from 2010 to 2020, including a section-by-section review, with analysis of the contribution of each part of the Act and its subordinate legislation and its connection to other key ACT legislation.
• Assess the appropriateness of the Act in achieving the intended outcomes to 2030 and beyond.
• Identify and recommend changes to the Act (including the Objects of the Act itself) so that it can achieve the intended outcomes to 2030 and beyond.
The findings were clear:
… the Act has gained wide support and has successfully achieved its targets to date. The Act remains appropriate to the next review in 2030. The objects themselves also remain appropriate for the future
The Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Amendment Bill 2022 integrates a number of the recommendations that came from the 10-year review of the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010.
It is important to reiterate that the review did not identify the need for significant changes to the act. The changes further strengthen the act’s capacity to remain effective in the future and to ensure that the ACT continues to remain a global leader in addressing climate change.
I will remind the Assembly that there are four key parts to the act: part 2, which is the ACT’s emissions reduction and renewal energy targets; part 3, which is the functions of the minister; part 4, the Climate Change Council; and part 5, sector agreements.
The updates regarding the ACT’s emissions reduction and renewable energy targets section of the act ensure that our emissions reduction targets will be upheld and met, while promoting government transparency in the most credible way possible. This is despite the acknowledgement that targets will become more difficult to achieve.
This kind of outcomes-focused legislation requires us to effectively monitor and report on the outcomes and understand their impact. Any opportunity to uphold and increase our accountability to community was accepted by government and integrated into the amendment bill. Included in this is the amendment that the bill limits offsetting activities to within Australia. This reflects concerns over the reliability and environmental impacts of international offset schemes.
To safeguard and ensure that future ministers uphold their core functions under the act, certain functions were emphasised to ensure they are given the same priority in future years as they are currently afforded. The three main functions of the minister are: to promote action to meet the ACT target and the other targets mentioned in part 2 of the act; to develop, adopt, or promote policies and programs related to climate change and adaptation; and to consider and recommend amending a territory law, including the
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