Canberra Net Zero 2045: Climate Strategy Explained

As Canberra heads into the second half of 2026, environmental leaders across the territory are intensifying their messaging about sustainability commitments, with officials and experts increasingly vocal about what achieving net-zero means for the capital's future.

The ACT government's Climate Change Strategy, targeting net-zero emissions by 2045, has become central to policy discussions at all levels. Speaking to The Daily Canberra, spokespeople from the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate emphasised that recent investments in renewable energy infrastructure across the Molonglo Valley industrial precinct and surrounding employment zones represent a practical shift away from legacy energy systems.

ANU's Fenner School of Environment and Society has positioned itself as a key research partner in these conversations. Researchers there have been examining how Canberra's urban forest strategy—particularly replanting initiatives across suburbs like Gungahlin and Belconnen—can offset emissions while addressing the capital's intense summer heat conditions. The university's modelling suggests that increasing tree canopy coverage by 5 per cent across growth suburbs could reduce local temperatures by up to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2035.

Housing affordability remains entangled with sustainability goals. Public service employees, who make up a significant portion of Canberra's workforce, are increasingly concerned about the cost of retrofitting rental properties for energy efficiency. Officials from the ACT Housing Commissioner's office have acknowledged these pressures, noting that incentive schemes for landlords are being considered as part of broader decarbonisation efforts.

The University of Canberra has also contributed to the conversation, with its Institute for Applied Ecology working on biodiversity protection along key corridors including the Molonglo River precinct. Experts there highlight that urban development in northern suburbs must balance growth with ecological preservation—a tension that has animated recent community consultations around Light Rail Stage 2 planning.

Transport remains contentious. While officials champion public transport expansion and electric vehicle adoption targets, transport experts note that Canberra's car-dependent geography presents real challenges. The rollout of EV charging stations, particularly across outer suburbs and the Fyshwick business district, is being positioned as a practical bridge toward 2030 interim targets.

Despite optimistic messaging from government and research institutions, sustainability advocates have pressed officials on the timeline for phasing out gas in homes and businesses—an issue affecting both environmental goals and cost-of-living pressures for residents already stretched by housing costs.

Officials consistently frame these initiatives as economic opportunities, pointing to green jobs creation. Yet the conversation underscores persistent tensions between rapid growth, affordability, and ambitious climate targets.

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