In the final days of the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Marrakesh, 17 states/regions and 19 countries across the world signed up to the 2050 Pathway Platform, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury, has announced.
The Pathway Platform will support countries, governments and businesses to develop long-term strategies to work towards zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including by setting interim targets to help get there.
“Every country, region and city in the world faces the shared challenge of global warming, and every one of us has the opportunity to take action. The 2050 Pathway Platform creates an opportunity for cities around the globe to work together and show leadership on global warming – even in the face of inaction from federal governments like our own.”
Minister Rattenbury today returned after a week in Marrakesh where he met with representatives from other sub-national governments as well as a number think tanks and non-government organisations.
“I’m am excited about Canberra’s future and the opportunity to work with other cities as we deliver 100 percent renewable electricity by 2020, and transform our transport, waste sectors, and the built environment, to make Canberra a world-leading sustainable city.
“The United Nations climate conference in Marrakesh has made it clear that we must not wait for the leadership of others. The ACT does not need to wait for the Federal Government to show leadership. States, regions and cities can work together and learn from each other to take urgent action to tackle global warming right now.
“As well as the states/regions and countries to have committed to the Platform, a total of 196 businesses have also joined, with many more to no doubt follow. Businesses know that tackling global warming and investing in renewable energy makes economic sense. They will help develop technologies to maximise the use of renewable energy and meet emissions targets.”
Minister Rattenbury said the 2050 Pathway Platform follows on from the Paris Agreement signed last year and the Under 2 Coalition, which now has 166 cities and sub-national governments from 33 countries working towards limiting global warming to well below two degrees.
“Countries, cities and states are all taking steps to plan their transition away from fossil fuels and towards a clean energy future for our planet.”
