Phasing out gas, accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles and planting tens of thousands of new trees are at the centre of the ACT government's new plan to tackle climate change.
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Territory directorates would also be subject to an internal "carbon tax", under the Barr government's strategy to help the ACT reach a target of net zero emissions by 2045.
The strategy, released on Monday, includes dozens of measures covering transport, housing, waste management and urban planning.
The government has allocated $17 million towards the strategy, although no single, headline figure has been outlined for the implementation of the whole plan.
Instead, the "social cost of carbon" and climate change adaptation will have to be factored into all future budget measures and policy decisions.
As the territory closes in on its target of sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2020, the government has turned its attention to driving "behavioural change" among Canberrans as it attempts to phase out its two largest sources of emissions - transport and gas usage.
Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury said the government's role was to make the transition "as seamless as possible" for the community.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the rate of change would be gradual, stressing that Canberrans would not "wake up one morning and everyone is going to be driving electric cars".
But Mr Barr believed the majority of the community was ready and willing to embrace the climate action initiatives.
"I think there is an appetite in the broader Canberra community for this sort of partnership approach and there is certainly a lot of distress at the lack of action at a national level," Mr Barr said.
More than 60 per cent of the territory's greenhouse gas emissions this financial year are predicted to come from transport, while gas will account for about 22 per cent.
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The government wants to cut emissions by 50-60 per cent of 1990 levels by the middle of the next decade, before setting its sights on zero emissions by 2045.
Under one option to reach zero emissions, no household in the ACT would be connected to gas by 2045.
The ACT government will pay to install electrical appliances in public housing units as part of attempts to ensure a "just transition" to zero emissions.
But the majority of Canberrans would foot the bill for the transition.
All public schools and government buildings would be powered by electricity, while laws will be introduced to remove a requirement that new suburbs are connected to gas.
The strategy seeks to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles in the ACT, flagging the potential for discounts on vehicle registrations and low interest loans.
Walking, cycling and the use of public transport would also be encouraged through the design of new housing developments.
The government will consider introducing a scheme in which developers would be able to contribute to "sustainable transport projects" instead of building a car park.
Thousands of new trees will be planted on Canberra's streets, with the government setting a target of 30 per cent canopy coverage across the city by 2045.
The city currently has about 21 per cent tree canopy coverage.
The ACT government has committed to achieving the emissions target without purchasing carbon offsets.
As an incentive to reduce their emissions, ACT government directorates will have to invest $20 for each tonne of carbon emission into a climate action fund.
ACT Climate Change Council chair Penny Sackett welcomed that approach.
"We're going to make the carbon offset here, in our own city," Ms Sackett said.
"That means that we're going to invest the money here to make Canberra carbon neutral not send it across the border. I'm really excited about that because that's real action."
"Sometimes people say what difference does it make what Canberra does - it's such a small fraction of the world population.
"But by showing leadership that a community of half a million people can do this and have that copied elsewhere the effect is enormous."
ACT Conservation Council executive director Helen Oakey supported the strategy, but urged the government to accelerate the transition.
Ms Oakey said rather than rely on education and incentives to fast track the shift to electricity, the government should halt the roll-out of gas supply to new developments.