“As the first Australian state or territory to declare a climate emergency, we’re setting the standard for climate action across Australia, and the world,” tweeted Shane Rattenbury, ACT Greens Leader and Minister for Climate Change in the Australian Capital Territory. On 16 May 2019 he moved a motion to shift to emergency footing for dealing with the unfolding consequences of damage to our climate.

The motion calls on the ACT Legislative Assembly in Canberra to acknowledge that ACT is in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent actions across all levels of Government, condemns the Federal Government for its lack of effective climate action, and calls on the Federal Government to help the States and Territories deal with the consequences.

“As the recent student climate strikers made clear, we must act as though our house is on fire — because it is,” Rattenbury said.

“Weather here in Canberra is becoming more extreme. We’re approaching dangerous environmental tipping points. Animals are becoming extinct. The climate is warming. No one under the age of 40 has lived in a year with global average temperatures below those of last century. We must act now or the environmental, social and economic results of climate change will become increasingly perilous.”

“The ACT is leading the nation and the world in our commitment to real action on climate change, delivering 100% renewable electricity by 2020 and zero net emissions by 2045 at the latest. We are transitioning away from dirty, polluting coal and creating more jobs in the clean, green renewable energy industry.”

→ The Greens – 16 May 2019:
Climate Emergency declared in the ACT: an Australian first for states and territories

→ The Greens – 16 April 2019:
Greens to declare ACT in state of Climate Emergency

→ RenewEconomy – 16 May 2019:
ACT declares climate change emergency – slams federal government failure to act
“The ACT has become the first Australian state or territory to make a formal declaration of a climate change emergency, passing a motion proposed by ACT climate minister Shane Rattenbury.”