Den gennemsnitlige indbygger i Canberra var ansvarlig for en udledning af 13,7 ton [[Drivhusgas|drivhusgasser]] i 2005.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/significant_projects/planning_studies/sustainable_future/sustainability_issues_in_canberra__background|title=Sustainability issues in Canberra – background|date=13. juni 2012|publisher=ACT Government|archivedate=26. april 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426120230/http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/significant_projects/planning_studies/sustainable_future/sustainability_issues_in_canberra__background|ref=harv}}</ref> I 2012 opsatte regeringen i ACT en målsætning om at reducere udledningen med 40 % fra niveauet i 1990 i 2020, 80 % i 2050 og ingen nettoudledning i 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}}</ref> Regeringen satte i 2013 som målsætning, at 90% af elforbruget i ACT skal komme fra vedvarende energi i 2020,<ref name=renewable/> hvilket i 2016 blev ændret til 100%.<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|newspaper=The Canberra Times|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=29 April 2016|first=Kirsten|last=Lawson|title=ACT commits to 100 per cent renewable energy target by 2020: Simon Corbell|archiveurl=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|archivedate=28 May 2016 }}</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|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|archiveurl=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|archivedate=9 June 2016}}</ref>
InI 1996 blev Canberra verdens første by, som 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 journal|url=http://www.uam.es/personal_pdi/ciencias/jaimefa/jaimecuevas/zerow.pdf|title=Zero waste|date=September 2001|publisher=Residua|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118131737/http://www.uam.es/personal_pdi/ciencias/jaimefa/jaimecuevas/zerow.pdf|archivedate=18 November 2011|ref=harv}}</ref> The strategy aimed to achieve a waste-free society by 2010, through the combined efforts of industry, government and community.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://fennerschool-people.anu.edu.au/richard_baker/SRES3028/example_work/Sandra%20Lauer/learningportfolio/pdfs/SRES6528_waste_policy_brief.pdf|title=Reducing commercial waste going to landfill in Canberra by improving the waste management practices of micro businesses|publisher=ACT Government|date=23. maj 2007|first=Sandra |last=Lauer|archiveurl=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|archivedate=19. maj 2013|ref=harv}}</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|publisher=CityNews Canberra|date=2. marts 2011|title=Canberra's waste dilemma|url=http://citynews.com.au/2011/canberras-waste-dilemma/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505115656/http://citynews.com.au/2011/canberras-waste-dilemma/|archivedate=5. maj 2013|ref=harv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-26/no-waste/345222|title=No waste|first=Craig|last=Allen|date=1. marts 2010|publisher=ABC News|ref=harv}}</ref>
[[Plastic bagsPlasticpose|Plasticposer]]<nowiki/>lavet made ofaf [[Polyethylen|polyethylene]] polymer[[Polymer|polymerer]] withmed aen thicknesstykkelse ofmindre less thanend 35 [[µm]] wereblev bannedforbudt fromi retail distribution in[[Detailhandel|detailhandlen]] thei ACT fromfra Novembernovember 2011.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1316|title=Plastic Bag Ban|date=1 November 2011|publisher=ACT Government|ref=harv}}</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|first=Kathleen|last=Dyett|date=1 November 2011|publisher=ABC News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112235537/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-01/act-bag-ban-begins/3611860|archivedate=12 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=ABC News|title=Bin bag sales booming|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/act-bin-bag-sales/3764100?section=act|date=9 January 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112175608/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/act-bin-bag-sales/3764100?section=act|archivedate=12 January 2012}}</ref> The ban was introduced by the ACT Government in an effortForbuddet toskulle makegøre Canberra moremere sustainablebæredygtig.<ref name=PlasticBags/>
Of75 all% wasteaf producedal inaffald thei ACT, 75 per centisbliver [[recycledGenbrug|genbrugt]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2010/01/no-waste-2010-some-waste-2010.html|title=No waste 2010=some waste 2010|first=Lucy|last=Nash|date=18. januar 2010|publisher=666 ABC Canberra|ref=harv|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111204345/http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2010/01/no-waste-2010-some-waste-2010.html|archivedate=11. januar 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Average household [[food waste]] in the ACT remains above the Australian average, costing an average $641 per household per annum.<ref>{{cite news|title=Saving money can help save others|first=Penny |last=Pryor|date=30. oktober 2011|newspaper=The Canberra Times|publisher=Fairfax Media|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/money/saving/saving-money-can-help-save-others-20111029-1mp5c.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604215124/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/money/saving/saving-money-can-help-save-others-20111029-1mp5c.html|archivedate=4. juni 2012}}</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">{{cite web|url=http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/about-floriade/environmental-care/|title=Environmental care|work=www.floriadeaustralia.com|accessdate=9 March 2015|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226235141/http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/about-floriade/environmental-care/|archivedate=26. februar 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> TheFestivallen eventer isogså also smoke-freerøgfri.<ref name="floriadeaustralia" />
