From droughts, to storms, to bushfires climate change will continue to have a lasting effect on the Canberra region. The greens say adaptation is just as crucial as reducing emissions, and they're making it a key part of their ACT election campaign as they try to hold onto their six seats in the legislative assembly.
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00:00To shelter from the elements while waiting for a bus, the Greens want to go retro.
00:07The modern ones that are being installed are being put in by people who want to advertise
00:11on them, just don't provide the shade, the wind protection that we need.
00:14Along with more of these Canberra icons, the Greens are proposing to plant 20,000 trees
00:20a year, particularly in newer, barer suburbs.
00:24Rolling out 20,000 trees a year will help us reach our 2045 goal of getting 30% canopy
00:30Without that cover, there are fears about summers to come.
00:33This land temperature map from the CSIRO from February 2017 shows the stark contrast between
00:40populated and unpopulated areas, and it closely correlates with this map of vegetation across
00:46the ACT.
00:47Labor has the same 30% tree cover target, but argues it's easier said than done, with
00:53city services having to scale back annual plantings.
00:57It's finding the areas, it's finding the households that are excited to have a tree
01:04for example, but some households really welcome having trees planted on their verges, others
01:10it might not suit their circumstances.
01:12Researchers warn trees might not cool cities during heatwaves as much as previously thought.
01:19They say plants experiencing heat stress hold onto their sap, reducing how much moisture
01:24they release.
01:25Trees and greenery is a fantastic technique to decrease the temperature, but during the
01:30periods of very high temperature, have to be very well irrigated.
01:34We need water bodies that provide that cooling effect, lots of trees being planted, but also
01:39looking at measures such as green walls, green roofs.
01:42To coordinate responses, the Greens also want a chief heat officer.
01:47Labor says it's unnecessary.
01:49All those functions already exist across existing ACT government roles and responsibilities.
01:55Seeds for debate ahead of the election.