Page 351 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
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Some of the points that Mr Corbell has just made really underline the fact that this is actually quite a small cost. I go back to my earlier remarks that I believe we really need to think about the fact that, yes, there are some costs attached to this, but the costs we are avoiding, the price we will not have to pay if we take some of these initiatives, really settle the score quite well. Rest assured, Ms Lawder, I am happy for you to print an op-ed any time you like. I just hope that next time it is more easily understood than the fact that we had to draw this out today. But it has been fascinating.
Just while I have been sitting here there has been a new story posted on the Canberra Times noting the fact that the ACT has just recorded its hottest summer on record with Canberra sweltering through three heatwaves and average top temperatures of almost 30 degrees. The ACT has recorded a maximum average temperature of 29.9 degrees, the highest average ever recorded, breaking the record previously held in 2006.
On top of this, Canberra endured three days over 40 degrees during the 2013-14 summer, bringing the total to 11 over the last five years. This compares to the ACT average which has been just one day over 40 degrees every 10 years. So we have gone from having one day every 10 years over 40 degrees to having 11 of them in the last five years. These are extraordinary records. Sean Carson from the weather bureau noted that several records have been shattered this summer, including the number of days over 37 degrees in a row, which was broken twice. Again, we see just extraordinary numbers of records being broken, and that is just the ACT ones. Of course, we have seen similar things right across the country both this summer and last summer.
I am pleased with the outcome of today’s discussion. I think it is important that we have affirmed that the ACT is committed to strong climate action. We have got a long way to go. We have got a lot of work to do to achieve the targets we have set ourselves. I am very proud of the fact that I have been a member of this Assembly at a time in which we have legislated to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent, a target that I think is utterly achievable and which we are well on our way to.
The legislation introduced this morning to move the ACT towards our 90 per cent renewable energy target by 2020 will help us deliver on that 40 per cent goal. I think we are setting this in train, and the community is equally proud of the fact that we as a jurisdiction are playing our part. I thank members for their support for this motion today. I look forward to working with members of the Assembly to continue to put the policies in place that will deliver more renewable energy to this territory, that will cut our greenhouse gas emissions and that will position the ACT for the future.
Amendment to proposed amendments agreed to.
Amendments, as amended, agreed to.
Motion, as amended, agreed to.
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