Sustainability Policy
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. The ACT Government uses the ‘triple bottom line’, recognising the importance of the social, economic and environmental facets of sustainability.
People, Place, Prosperity: the ACT's Sustainability Policy 2009 [
PDF 797KB]
Triple Bottom Line Assessment
In June 2011, the ACT Government released a discussion paper on the implementation of an across-government triple bottom line assessment framework. Developing and implementing the Triple Bottom Line assessment framework will help embed sustainability within decision-making processes, in line with the commitments made in People, Place, Prosperity and elsewhere. By using the Triple Bottom Line framework, policies and procedures that influence and support key decision-making points within government will incorporate considerations of sustainability.
Triple Bottom Line Assessment Framework Discussion Paper [
1.8MB]
Triple Bottom Line Assessment Framework Discussion Paper [ 1.1MB]
Next Steps - Triple Bottom Line Assessment Framework
This Discussion Paper was released for public consultation, closing in August 2011. The ACT Government is progressing a TBL pilot by applying the framework as outlined in the discussion paper to major policy proposals on the Cabinet agenda. The Government will evaluate the pilot and use this, and feedback on the discussion paper, to finalise an approach by June 2012.
Climate Change Impact Assessment Discussion Paper (Open for Public Comment)
This Discussion Paper has been developed to help assess climate change impacts. The Triple Bottom Line Assessment framework provides for inclusion of more detailed stand alone assessments of gender, poverty and climate change impacts. A climate change impact assessment will be required all Government Bills and for all major policy proposals that have significant climate change impacts. Bills and policy proposals will be assessed with regard to two factors of climate change:
- mitigation (the reduction or increase of greenhouse gas emissions); and
- adaptation (adjusting to changes in the climate).
Comments on the paper are due by COB Thursday, 1 March 2012.
Climate Change Impact Assessment Discussion Paper [ PDF 477.3KB]
Next Steps
- Public consultation will be for nearly three (3) months, with comments due by COB Thursday, 1 March 2012.
- Additionally, a limited pilot of the Climate Change Impact Assessment process is to be conducted on selected Government policy proposals.
- The Climate Change Impact Assessment will be reviewed in light of any feedback and comment received through the public consultation process and lessons learned from the pilot.
- It is intended that the Climate Change Impact Assessment will comprise a module or sub‑component of the wider Triple Bottom Line Assessment Framework.
- Government consideration of the final Triple Bottom Line Assessment Framework is anticipated by end-June 2012.
Triple Bottom Line Reporting
An essential step in pursuing sustainable 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]
