Editing Canberra (section)

===Sustainability and the environment===
[[File:Floriade Canberra 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Floriade (Canberra)|Floriade]] is held in [[Commonwealth Park]] every spring. It is the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere, employing and encouraging environmental practises, including the use of [[green energy]].<ref name="floriadeaustralia">{{cite web |url=http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/about-floriade/environmental-care/ |title=Environmental care |work=www.floriadeaustralia.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226235141/http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/about-floriade/environmental-care/ |archive-date=26 February 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=9 March 2015}}</ref>]]
The average Canberran was responsible for 13.7 tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 June 2012 |title=Sustainability issues in Canberra – background |url=http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/significant_projects/planning_studies/sustainable_future/sustainability_issues_in_canberra__background |publisher=ACT Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426120230/http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/significant_projects/planning_studies/sustainable_future/sustainability_issues_in_canberra__background |archive-date=26 April 2013}}</ref> In 2012, the ACT Government legislated [[greenhouse gas]] targets to reduce its emissions by 40&nbsp;per&nbsp;cent from 1990 levels by 2020, 80&nbsp;per&nbsp;cent by 2050, with no net emissions by&nbsp;2060.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.actconference.com.au/?q=News&id=4567f709-a37e-c5be-fec6-521e9b7ab45a |title=Minister showcases Canberra's sustainability success |date=28 August 2013 |first=Simon |last=Corbell |author-link=Simon Corbell |access-date=14 October 2013 |archive-date=22 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022224248/http://www.actconference.com.au/?q=News&id=4567f709-a37e-c5be-fec6-521e9b7ab45a |url-status=live}}</ref> The government announced in 2013 a target for 90% of electricity consumed in the ACT to be supplied from renewable sources by 2020,<ref name="renewable" /> and in 2016 set an ambitious target of 100% by 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/act-commits-to-100-per-cent-renewable-energy-target-by-2020-simon-corbell-20160428-goh1l9.html |title=ACT commits to 100 per cent renewable energy target by 2020: Simon Corbell |last=Lawson |first=Kirsten |date=29 April 2016 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528225654/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/act-commits-to-100-per-cent-renewable-energy-target-by-2020-simon-corbell-20160428-goh1l9.html |archive-date=28 May 2016 |publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-29/act-to-be-powered-by-100-per-cent-renewable-energy-by-2020/7369004 |title=ACT to be powered by 100pc renewable energy by 2020 |date=29 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609180143/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-29/act-to-be-powered-by-100-per-cent-renewable-energy-by-2020/7369004 |archive-date=9 June 2016 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>

In 1996, Canberra became the first city in the world to set a vision of [[zero waste|no waste]], proposing an ambitious target of 2010 for completion.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 2001 |title=Zero waste |url=http://www.uam.es/personal_pdi/ciencias/jaimefa/jaimecuevas/zerow.pdf |publisher=Residua |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118131737/http://www.uam.es/personal_pdi/ciencias/jaimefa/jaimecuevas/zerow.pdf |archive-date=18 November 2011}}</ref> The strategy aimed to achieve a waste-free society by 2010, through the combined efforts of industry, government and community.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lauer |first=Sandra |date=23 May 2007 |title=Reducing commercial waste going to landfill in Canberra by improving the waste management practices of micro businesses |url=http://fennerschool-people.anu.edu.au/richard_baker/SRES3028/example_work/Sandra%20Lauer/learningportfolio/pdfs/SRES6528_waste_policy_brief.pdf |publisher=ACT Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519094021/http://fennerschool-people.anu.edu.au/richard_baker/SRES3028/example_work/Sandra%20Lauer/learningportfolio/pdfs/SRES6528_waste_policy_brief.pdf |archive-date=19 May 2013}}</ref> By early 2010, it was apparent that though it had reduced waste going to landfill, the ACT initiative's original 2010 target for absolutely zero landfill waste would be delayed or revised to meet the reality.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2 March 2011 |title=Canberra's waste dilemma |url=http://citynews.com.au/2011/canberras-waste-dilemma/ |journal=CityNews |location=Canberra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505115656/http://citynews.com.au/2011/canberras-waste-dilemma/ |archive-date=5 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Craig |date=1 March 2010 |title=No waste |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-26/no-waste/345222 |work=ABC News |access-date=14 October 2013 |archive-date=27 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127161255/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-26/no-waste/345222 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Plastic bags]] made of [[polyethylene]] polymer with a thickness of less than 35&nbsp;[[μm]] were banned from retail distribution in the ACT from November 2011.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 November 2011 |title=Plastic Bag Ban |journal=Canberra Connect |url=https://www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1316 |publisher=ACT Government |access-date=15 October 2013 |archive-date=15 October 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131015080323/https://www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1316 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="PlasticBags">{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-01/act-bag-ban-begins/3611860 |title=ACT bag ban begins |last=Dyett |first=Kathleen |date=1 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112235537/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-01/act-bag-ban-begins/3611860 |archive-date=12 January 2012 |work=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/act-bin-bag-sales/3764100?section=act |title=Bin bag sales booming |date=9 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112175608/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/act-bin-bag-sales/3764100?section=act |archive-date=12 January 2012 |work=ABC News}}</ref> The ban was introduced by the ACT Government in an effort to make Canberra more sustainable.<ref name="PlasticBags" />

Of all waste produced in the ACT, 75&nbsp;per&nbsp;cent is [[recycled]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Nash |first=Lucy |date=18 January 2010 |title=No waste 2010=some waste 2010 |url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2010/01/no-waste-2010-some-waste-2010.html |url-status=dead |work=666 ABC Canberra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111204345/http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2010/01/no-waste-2010-some-waste-2010.html |archive-date=11 January 2015}}</ref> Average household [[food waste]] in the ACT remains above the Australian average, costing an average $641&nbsp;per&nbsp;household per&nbsp;annum.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/money/saving/saving-money-can-help-save-others-20111029-1mp5c.html |title=Saving money can help save others |last=Pryor |first=Penny |date=30 October 2011 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604215124/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/money/saving/saving-money-can-help-save-others-20111029-1mp5c.html |archive-date=4 June 2012 |publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref>

Canberra's annual [[Floriade (Canberra)|Floriade]] festival features a large display of flowers every Spring in [[Commonwealth Park]]. The organisers of the event have a strong environmental standpoint, promoting and using [[green energy]], "green catering", [[sustainability|sustainable paper]], the conservation and saving of water.<ref name="floriadeaustralia" /> The event is also smoke-free.<ref name="floriadeaustralia" />