The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2019-25 outlines the next stage of the ACT Government’s climate change response and identifies actions to meet climate change targets. The actions were developed with the community and stakeholders, and are focused on:
- reducing emissions (from 1990 levels) by 50–60% by 2025
- building resilience to climate change impacts
- ensuring we don’t ‘lock in’ future emissions
- laying the foundations for achieving net zero emissions.
The strategy places a strong focus on reducing emissions from transport — one of the largest sources of emissions in Canberra.
The strategy’s active travel related action items are as follows:
| COMMITMENT | DUE |
|---|---|
| Plan for a compact and efficient city with improved access to sustainable transport options by delivering up to 70% of new housing within our existing town and group centres and along key transit corridors. | Ongoing |
| Expand and promote the Active Travel Office and schools-based active travel initiatives. | Ongoing |
| Finalise an active travel strategic plan and update the Active Travel Framework to provide coordinated active travel networks across the Territory. | Ongoing |
| Prioritise walking and cycling and enhance active travel infrastructure to improve safety and connectivity of the active travel network. | Ongoing |
| Support bike share schemes and other measures to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of cycling as a ‘last kilometre’ solution. | Ongoing |
| Explore incentives to support staff use of active travel. | Ongoing |
| Collect and report ACT travel data at least every two years on a range of journey types. | Ongoing |
| Expand the Actsmart Home, School and Business programs to include travel choices and integrate with the work of the Active Travel Office. | 2020 |
| Explore options for implementing a reward scheme for community members who increase their use of active travel. | 2020 |
| Explore and trial financial incentives such as rebates and low interest loans to encourage the uptake of electric bikes. | 2020 |
| Implement the Municipal Infrastructure Standards for Active Travel and develop best practice guidance for industry and stakeholders to inform better design outcomes for active travel infrastructure. | 2020 |
| Ensure all new Government capital works with a budget of more than $10 million either seek or are consistent with an independent sustainability rating such as an Infrastructure Sustainability rating from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA), or a Greenstar rating from the Green Building Council of Austalia or equivalent, and review ratings at least every five years. | FROM 2020 |
| Implement car free days and consider car free areas, shared zones and traffic calmed streets. | 2021 |
| Ensure the social cost of carbon and climate change adaptation outcomes are considered in all ACT Government policies, budget decisions, capital works projects and procurements. | 2021 |
| Finalise and implement the End-of-Trip Facilities General Code to encourage improved bicycle parking and end-of-trip facilities in commercial developments. | 2021 |
| Investigate and implement options for encouraging a shift to public transport and active travel through planning and a smarter approach to parking. | 2022 |
| Investigate options for dedicating a greater proportion of road space and public realm space to sustainable transport modes. | 2023 |
| Explore and implement new approaches to improving the productivity of key transport corridors through prioritisation of active travel. | 2024 |
| Trial and evaluate innovative approaches to planning and development that prioritise active travel and public transport. | 2024 |
