The ACT government has released its climate change strategy through to 2025 to keep it on track to reach the ultimate target of zero net emissions by 2045.
As part of the strategy, the government will phase out the use of gas and electrify all new government-owned buildings.
In a joint announcement, ACT chief minister Andrew Barr and climate change minister Shane Rattenbury said ACT’s overall emissions will be reduced by 50% to 60% by 2025.
Next month, the ACT will reach its goal of 100% renewable electricity which will reduce overall emissions by 40 per cent.
The Labor-Greens government has successfully implemented some of Australia’s most ambitious emissions reduction and renewable energy targets.
The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2019-2025 includes a commitment for all new ACT government offices and public school buildings to source energy via the ACT’s 100% renewable electricity arrangements, which eliminates the need for natural gas in the use of heating, cooling and cooking.
Moreover, the ACT will also remove the mandatory requirement for new homes built in the ACT to be connected to the mains gas network and will begin to introduce new policies to replace gas appliances with electric alternatives.
According to the strategy, greenhouse gas emissions will be cut 50-60% from 1990 levels by 2025, and the city’s urban tree canopy will increase 30% by 2045.
A new round of reverse auctions are planned to secure an additional 250MW of renewable energy supply that will be paired with a 20MW/40MWh ‘big battery’ system that will be built within the ACT.
The big battery system will work to optimise the use of renewable energy generated within the ACT and improve energy security.
The additional reverse auctions reflect an ongoing need to invest in renewable energy projects as jurisdictions like the ACT continue to shift energy use from fossil fuels to a renewably powered electricity system.
Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie, said the ACT is a state and territory frontrunner in the race to tackle climate change.
“We’ve seen them set their 100% renewable energy target by 2020 and surmount it months earlier. We’re urging an early win on this target too,” she said.
“To effectively tackle climate change we must see all states and territories across the country urgently ramp up targets and action.”