Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury MLA brought a motion to the Legislative Assembly calling on the ACT Government to consider numerous policy areas in the development of its next climate strategy.
Thomas moved amendments to the motion, noting that the ACT’s net emissions had only been reduced by 0.1 percentage points since 2019-20, and adding a call to bring net zero forward to 2040 in alignment with a recommendation made by an independent review of the ACT Government’s action on climate change in December 2024.
During the debate, Thomas also spoke about the detailed, community-led submission he was providing into the Government’s consultation process for its next Climate Change Strategy.
Thomas’s amendments were voted down by ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals, despite being supported by the ACT Greens and independent MLA Fiona Carrick.
Independent MLA Fiona Carrick also moved an amendment calling on the Government to investigate, including through a community preference survey, how to encourage mode shift to public transport and active travel. This amendment was supported unanimously.
The motion, as amended by Ms Carrick, was then passed by the Assembly without opposition.
Mr Rattenbury’s motion is available here and Mr Emerson’s amendment can be found here.
Mr Emerson’s submission for the next ACT Climate Change Strategy is available here.