The ACT’s world-leading work to tackle climate change was on show at the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in California this week, where Canberra joined Sacramento to collaborate with other mid-sized cities to take climate action.
“I was proud to join with the Mayor of Sacramento Darrell Steinberg to host an affiliate event at GCAS this week, further cementing the ACT as a leader in climate change action—not just in Australia, but on the world stage,” said ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury.
“Together, we collaborated with other mid-sized global cities—such as Copenhagen, Santa Monica and Guadalajara—on how to develop and implement strong, enduring action on climate change. The ACT is already seeing the benefits of our early action on climate change, with some of the lowest renewable electricity prices in Australia and our renewable energy projects attracting business, research and educational opportunities. Other cities are also keen to harness these benefits of transitioning to a clean energy future.
At the conclusion of the affiliate event, a Carbon Zero Cities declaration was signed by the ACT and Sacramento committing the cities to continue to exchange knowledge and experience to build capacity for climate action.
“Canberra and Sacramento are similar in size and are showing what can be done at a sub-national level to drive the transition to a zero carbon future. We both have ambitious targets and actions in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“The ACT is on track to source 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy by 2020 and we are also bringing forward our zero net emissions target to 2045. Similarly, Sacramento has a zero carbon target by 2050 and, like the ACT, is working towards electrifying transport.
“We also share the challenge of having national governments which are not only failing to take climate action but winding back previous progress made. The ACT’s actions contrast to those of our Federal Government, whose new Prime Minister celebrated a lump of coal in parliament, and recently snubbed the climate change discussions at the Pacific Islands Forum.
“GCAS was not only a great chance for delegates to discuss opportunities and challenges for their cities, and establish working relationships, but for the ACT and Sacramento to exchange learnings.
“Sacramento is making significant investments in areas like electric vehicle charging infrastructure, all-electric car share services, electric-assist bike share, and on-demand zero-emission micro-transit, so we will draw on some of their ideas as we implement our Transition to Zero Emissions Vehicles Action Plan here in Canberra.”
The ACT was involved in several other events promoting the region’s strong climate change action during the global Summit, including:
- presentation on ACT’s 100% renewable electricity at a plenary session
- presentation on a clean energy systems panel
- participation at the Summit General Assembly
- participation at a VIP zero emissions vehicle networking event
- joining of the Powering Past Coal Alliance
