States and territories are driving Australia’s acceleration towards a clean and reliable renewable energy grid. In fact, progress on new clean energy generation, like wind and solar, has been so rapid in recent years that it has been hard to keep up. Our report, ‘Race to the top: Australia’s clean energy momentum’, shines a light on the progress Australia’s states and territories have already made, and their plans for the road ahead. It highlights the huge and growing momentum around the country and calls out where governments still have work to do to cut climate pollution further and faster.

How does the ACT stack up?

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is a national leader in clean energy. Since 2020, it has been 100% powered by renewables, secured through innovative power purchase agreements which have given Canberrans some of the lowest power bills in the country.

Electrification station

The ACT was the first jurisdiction in the nation to ensure new homes are built all-electric, with additional plans to phase out polluting gas appliances in public and community housing by 2030 and a complete phase-out of gas by 2045. The territory is also streets ahead of other states and territories on zero emissions vehicles, with 20% of new vehicles sold in the ACT now being electric. The territory’s emission-based car registration system makes fuel-efficient vehicles more affordable for more Canberrans, and it is also the first jurisdiction in Australia planning to end new fossil-fuelled vehicles by 2035. 

What next for the ACT?

Canberra is left waiting at the station with the lowest shared transport use of any Australian capital, mainly because limited services in its spread-out suburbs leave residents reliant on their cars. Giving ACT residents access to fast, frequent and reliable public transport services means cutting climate pollution and making ACT streets safer by getting more cars off the road.