ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, saying she hopes to learn from world-leading experts what could be implemented in Canberra to further cut the capital's emissions.
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Ms Lee will attend the conference, known as COP26, as part of a delegation organised by Coalition for Conservation, an Australian conservative lobby group that advocates for climate action.
"Action on conserving our environment, valuing and respecting our environment, they're inherently conservative values and it's also important to note that action on climate change, action to conserve our environment, should not be a political issue," Ms Lee said.
"It is something that is of great importance to many people across all political spectrums. It's important that leaders show that."
Ms Lee said the cost of her flight would be covered by Coalition for Conservation, and she would speak at three events, including the legislators' summit and the youth environment summit.
The Opposition Leader said she had contacted the ACT Greens leader, Shane Rattenbury, and Chief Minister Andrew Barr, offering to "wave the flag for the ACT".
"Is there something specific that you want me to bring back for the benefit of the ACT and is there anything you want me to push in Glasgow on behalf of the ACT?" Ms Lee said she asked Mr Barr and Mr Rattenbury.
Mr Barr told an ACT budget estimates hearing last week no ACT government representatives would attend this year's conference.
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Ms Lee declined to be drawn on whether the federal government's recent net-zero pledge should be enshrined in legislation, but welcomed the commitment and said "it's about a matter of working together to ensure that we get there".
"Look, I'm not going to go into that detail. It's not really my call, obviously. But what I can focus on is of course, again, the Canberra Liberals have always had a very strong record when it comes to commitment and action on climate change, including our tripartisan commitment to net zero emissions by 2045, which is of course ambitious," she said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week confirmed the federal government would commit to a 2050 net-zero target.
A so-called plan for achieving the target produced by the federal government was widely criticised by climate change experts for failing to offer detail on how the country would actually reduce its emissions, other than relying on unproven and as yet undeveloped technology, including large-scale carbon capture.
Climate change policy has been bitterly contested in Australia, and some sectors of the Coalition continue to downplay the scientific significance of a changing climate or the need to limit emissions to protect the environment and humanity.
Ms Lee on Monday emphasised the importance of technology to reducing emissions and ensuring there was a "just transition" that did not cost jobs.
"There is no reason why Canberra couldn't be the knowledge capital of Australia, couldn't be at the forefront of cutting edge technology when it comes to clean energy, and emissions reduction. And I firmly, firmly believe in our capacity to go there and achieve that," she said.
Ms Lee, citing transport as one of the next areas for the ACT to cut its emissions, said governments should avoid putting up barriers that stifle market demand for renewable technology.
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Ms Lee was criticised in August for attending a ball organised by the youth arm of her party, the ACT Young Liberals, where a lump of coal from the controversial Carmichael mine was reportedly auctioned for $2600.
The Opposition Leader on Monday defended her party's "very strong commitment" to climate action in the ACT.
"The Canberra Liberals have always shown a very strong commitment to climate change and action on climate change. I would say that when the Canberra Liberals had committed to the 100 per cent renewable electricity, we probably had more ambitious climate change policies than even some of the more progressive parties around Australia," Ms Lee said.
"So I think the Canberra Liberals' record speaks for itself when it comes to our commitment to strong action on climate change and conservation of our local environment."
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