The commitment will put the ACT government at the forefront of global responses to climate change, building on its current agenda which will see 90 percent of its energy needs delivered by renewables by 2020. It will also drive research and growth in employment.
The announcement was made by ACT government chief minister Andrew Barr at the ACT Labour Party Conference this weekend.
“We’ve already seen a 400 percent increase in renewable energy jobs in the past five years, and there will be more to come” said Mr Barr. “Canberra can and should be a beacon for everyone who realises the world must act decisively now to stave off a future of catastrophic climate change.”
Mr Barr added that the ACT policy is a stark contrast to that of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister Tony Abbott, which denies the very existence of climate change. He said that the ACT is doing everything it can to ensure future generations aren’t burdened with the consequences of global warming.
The ACT will also continue to divest its investment portfolio of high-carbon emitting companies and sectors – without inflicting lower returns.
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