The ACT Government is committed to pursuing sustainability across all of its policies and programs. The ACT’s approach to sustainability is set out in its key policy document, People, Place, Prosperity, which was revised in 2009.
People, Place, Prosperity: the ACT's Sustainability Policy 2009 [
PDF 797KB]
The Government tabled its response to the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Environment and Water's inquiry into the Ecological Carrying Capacity of the ACT and Region on 23 August 2012.
The Government response and further details of the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Enviornment and Water's inquiry are available on the Legislative Assembly Website
.
In July 2012 Cabinet agreed that TBL assessments become a standing requirement of preparing Cabinet policy submissions (new policy or policy changes), commencing in March 2013. Climate change impact assessments are integrated into the TBL Assessment Framework.
Triple Bottom Line Assessment Framework [
2.4MB]
Triple Bottom Line Assessment Framework [ 1.4MB]
In June 2011, the ACT Government released a discussion paper on the implementation of an across-government Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Assessment Framework.
Triple Bottom Line Assessment Framework Discussion Paper [ 1.8MB]
Triple Bottom Line Assessment Framework Discussion Paper [ 1.1MB]
The TBL Assessment Framework is a logical framework for identifying and integrating social, environmental and economic factors into the policy development cycle and the decision-making process by ensuring that decisions are informed by principles of sustainability.
The Framework was subsequently piloted across the ACT Government. A key objective of the Pilot was to evaluate the experience and findings of the Pilot study in the context of the ACT Government's Cabinet processes and identify potential improvements to the approach adopted.
The evaluation confirmed that a well designed TBL Assessment process can support Cabinet policy deliberations by bringing a broader range of perspectives in support of decision making.
Triple Bottom Line Report Assessment of Pilot [ 1.4MB]
Triple Bottom Line Report Assessment of Pilot [ 430KB]
This is a Framework to assess the vulnerability of the Australian Capital Territory’s infrastructure to climate change.
The Framework aims to formally integrate climate change risk assessment into government decision making and planning. The Framework recognises that infrastructure has a long life span or ‘design life’. It also recognises that climate change assessment, at strategic points in the decision making process, will be vital to the delivery of effective and efficient infrastructure over the coming decades.
The Framework builds on the existing risk management framework used by the ACT Government. The frameworks follow the steps described in the Risk Management Standards (AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009).
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Framework for Infrastructure [ DOC 1.6MB]
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Framework for Infrastructure [ PDF 396.7KB]
An essential step in pursuing sustainability is transparent reporting, and the ACT Government has committed to triple bottom line agency reporting. In 2009, the Government released for public comment a pilot triple bottom line report for the Chief Minister’s Department. This provided the basis for the inclusion in 2010 for the first time of triple bottom line requirements in the Chief Minister’s Annual Report Directions.
Chief Minister’s Department Pilot Triple Bottom Line Annual Report 2008-09 [ PDF 450KB]
