Canberra, Australia: the sustainable capital
Canberra is one of the top 5 most sustainable cities in the world (Earth.org, 2022), which means a visit to Canberra is a good choice for those who want to have less of a carbon footprint within their travel plans.
The ACT Government is proud that Canberra has achieved a 100% renewable energy supply, and that it is the first city outside Europe and 8th in the world to achieve 100% renewable energy generated by wind and photovoltaic power. Canberra also has the highest number of electric vehicle charge stations per capita in Australia, the first testing facility in Australia for replacing natural gas with hydrogen, and it is home to Australia’s largest community-owned solar farm.
Canberra and Region tourism businesses and operators are an essential part of the sustainability story, and VisitCanberra is here to assist you in finding your place in the sustainability story of Canberra. There is more than one way to accredit your business or offering as sustainable, and we’ve compiled a few essential kick-starters to get you going on, or continuing on, your journey to sustainability.
Understand where you are starting from
Want to find out where you are from a sustainability perspective? VisitCanberra have partnered with EcoTourism Australia to provide eligible ACT visitor economy businesses free access to the pre-certification Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard.
The fully funded Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard supports visitor economy businesses to assess their current performance across the four pillars of sustainability:
- Environmental impacts
- Socio-economic impacts
- Cultural impacts
- Sustainable management
Apply for a free Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard and find out how well you score, today. Sponsored by VisitCanberra.
Apply today
Tourism Emissions Reduction Program
The Tourism Emissions Reduction (TER) Program is a free program under the Quality Tourism Framework that offers a comprehensive five-stage path designed specifically for tourism and hospitality businesses eager to manage their environmental impact and find operational efficiencies. This program equips businesses with tools such as an emissions estimator calculator, enabling them to develop a detailed carbon emissions report and a customised emissions reduction plan.
Eligibility Criteria: Be a Sustainable Tourism Accredited Business under the Quality Tourism Framework
Businesses participating in this program not only comply with growing environmental standards but also tap into a market of travellers prioritising sustainability, thereby gaining a competitive edge.
Enrol in the TER Program
Use these helpful tools
The national strategy for the visitor economy, THRIVE 2030, is centred on sustainable growth. A Sustainable Tourism Toolkit has been jointly developed by the Australian Government, State, and Territory governments, as a ‘how-to’ guide providing practical, easy-to-understand information for tourism businesses to implement sustainable practices.
This free Toolkit is a great resource for tourism businesses who are progressing in their sustainability journey. Using the Toolkit will help businesses become more competitive, meet international demand, and improve profitability.
Another helpful resource is the Sustainability Storytellers Guides produced by Tourism Australia to provide examples of sustainable stories, helping tourism businesses communicate their sustainability actions with authenticity and honesty.
The ACT is delivering one of the most ambitious climate action agendas in the world. Thanks to the policies of the ACT Government, and the commitment of the Canberra community, we are making good progress on our climate action ambitions. As a business in the ACT, you can leverage the information from core climate action strategies, which can all be found here, in your own communications to demonstrate the ACT’s commitment to sustainability.
See the Sustainable Tourism Toolkit, here https://business.gov.au/planning/industry-information/tourism-industry/sustainable-tourism
Get to know the framework for your industry
As part of THRIVE 2030, the National Sustainability Framework for the Visitor Economy has been jointly developed by the Australian Government, and State and Territory governments.As part of THRIVE 2030, the National Sustainability Framework for the Visitor Economy has been jointly developed by the Australian Government, and State and Territory governments.
For use by policy makers and industry bodies, this Framework can support:
- Creating a shared understanding of sustainability in Australian tourism
- Raising awareness of core sustainability principles applicable to any tourism business and
- Showcasing to the world Australia’s vision for a sustainable visitor economy.
The Framework complements the Australian Government’s broader environmental and social policy priorities relevant to the visitor economy, such as climate change action and empowering First Nations peoples.
See the National Sustainable Framework, here https://www.austrade.gov.au/en/news-and-analysis/publications-and-reports/national-sustainability-framework-for-the-visitor-economy
Share your sustainability story with us
VisitCanberra wants to share your sustainability story with our audiences and help visitors know about your great, sustainable offerings. If you want your business’ sustainable story known, share it with the VisitCanberra media team.
Post your sustainability content onto VisitCanberra’s social channels or use the relevant hashtags and handles to help us and others see your posts: #VisitCanberra @VisitCanberra
List your sustainable tourism product offering on the Australian Tourism Database Warehouse (ATDW) to make it easier for VisitCanberra and others to promote your business.
See how VisitCanberra talk about having a sustainable break in Canberra.