The Conservation Council says the ACT Government’s new Climate Change Strategy 2026-2036 falls short of delivering the concrete action needed to meet the Territory’s emissions targets, while welcoming its long-term ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.

The strategy, released on Wednesday, sets out a decade-long framework to reduce emissions and improve climate resilience. It includes an initial action plan covering transport, energy, the built environment, waste, agriculture and government operations, with budget-funded measures including support for active travel, a carbon offsets policy, reducing emissions from government operations and helping community organisations prepare for climate impacts.

The government also plans to expand electrification, continue phasing out fossil fuel gas, improve resilience to flash flooding and urban heat, and launch a Sustainable Apartments Program to help apartment buildings transition away from gas.

The Conservation Council welcomed the strategy’s focus on equity, resilience and the apartments program, but said the first action plan contained too few tangible measures and lacked the funding needed to deliver meaningful emissions reductions. It argued the government needed to move beyond broad strategies and provide clearer, measurable actions.

The Property Council also welcomed the strategy, saying it broadly reflected industry feedback and provided greater certainty about the Territory’s climate direction. It said continued support for electrification, particularly for apartment and commercial buildings, would be important, while ensuring climate policy also supports housing supply, infrastructure and economic growth.

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