By spelling out the urgency of the task to tackle climate change, Professor Ross Garnaut has highlighted the shortcomings of the ACT's current response.
His address provided a powerful case for early action. He stressed there would be winners and losers, and the most innovative stand to gain the most. This is where the ACT is lagging behind.
The ACT Government's climate strategy, Weathering the Change, says all the right things, noting ''if nothing is done the eventual outcome will be unaffordable in environmental, economic and social terms'', but delivers little in terms of action.
The plan really comes unstuck when it comes to emissions reduction targets. The Labor Government has committed the ACT to limiting 2025 emissions to 2000 levels, and then cutting them by 60 per cent by 2050. On the surface these figures look responsible. Closer analysis tells a different story.
Globally, including in the Kyoto Protocol, the accepted baseline for measuring emissions is 1990. By shifting the baseline to 2000, the Stanhope Government has sought to conceal spiralling emissions.
Applying the 1990 baseline, the Government's 2025 target is actually a 14 per cent increase in emissions over 1990 levels. Worse still, by 2004, ACT emissions were already 20.5 per cent above 1990 levels. If other jurisdictions and countries match this, the planet faces an environmental and economic catastrophe.
These figures point to the need for an innovative and committed response. Energy-efficient housing and businesses, massively improved public transport, a coherent energy policy and a vibrant renewable energy industry are the ideas and opportunities that will boost the ACT and its economy in the future. The Government must play a stronger role in nurturing this change.
The 2007-11 action plan attached to Weathering the Change picks up some of these points. Yet even those ideas are not being implemented.
For example, the action plan refers to strengthening passive solar design in Canberra. However, in a recent briefing for the Greens on the new development of Molonglo, the ACT Planning and Land Authority revealed it did not have plans to ensure solar orientation of new houses. Nor did it intend to put in bus lanes until ''some time in the future when it is justifiable'', effectively condemning future residents to huge petrol bills.
The suburbs we are building must have a low carbon footprint, anything less is irresponsible.
The feed in tariff laws passed this week are a welcome initiative, if somewhat overdue. With about 59 per cent of the ACT's greenhouse emissions resulting from electricity consumption, we must find ways to reduce energy consumption, use energy more efficiently and maximise energy coming from clean sources.
Like other Canberrans, I recently received the Government's budget.
It does not get real on climate change. As the Conservation Council noted in its analysis, less than $10 million of the $100million announced as climate change spending will fund measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission in the short term. Glossy strategy documents and rebadged spending commitments will not cut greenhouse gas emissions. New thinking and serious commitment will. So far the Stanhope Government has not delivered either.
Shane Rattenbury is a former political and business director at Greenpeace International. He is the ACT Greens candidate for Molonglo.
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