Page 580 - Week 02 - Thursday, 16 February 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
work will need to be done to supply reliable and sufficient storage capacity for the territory.
Minister Rattenbury signed up to a commitment to “identify and prioritise actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change” at the UN conference in Marrakech in December last year when the ACT became one of 17 states or regions and 19 countries to sign up to the 2050 pathway platform. The pathway platform will support countries, governments and businesses to develop long-term strategies to work towards zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including by setting interim targets to help get there. Minister Rattenbury was quoted at the time as saying:
The United Nations climate conference in Marrakech has made it clear that we must not wait for the leadership of others. The ACT does not need to wait for the Federal Government to show leadership. States, regions and cities can work together and learn from each other to take urgent action to tackle global warming right now.
As I stated earlier, commitment to those targets is also supported by my colleagues on this side of the chamber. We are also proud that the ACT has been a world leader in this goal. We need to ensure, however, that the commitment Minister Rattenbury signed us up to is more than an aspirational goal.
The challenge before us now is not whether we should take action or not to tackle climate change, the challenge before us now is how we get there. The Canberra community has the right to expect that their government will consider an evidence-based approach in developing plans to move forward. The Canberra community has the right to expect that their government will and must include, in its plans, a guarantee of reliability of electricity supply and affordability for everyday Canberrans.
Will the minister reassure our community that the ACT government will develop a serious plan to take action to tackle climate change? Will the minister reassure our community that the ACT government will take seriously the concerns of energy security and reliability of supply? Will the minister reassure our community that the ACT government will ensure, as a matter of priority, the affordability of our transition to renewable energy because Canberra families should not be forced to choose between food and electricity?
If we, as a city, are serious about tackling climate change there are practical considerations we need to factor in. It cannot be a renewable future at all costs. If we, as a city, are serious about sustainability we need to ensure that we are moving toward a true sustainable future. A true sustainable future includes environmental, economic and social sustainability. If we cannot be confident in that then it will just remain an aspirational goal.
I call on the government to implement actions for a wholly sustainable future for all Canberrans. Given that, I move the amendment in my name on behalf of the Canberra Liberals:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video