ACT parliament declares climate emergency

The ACT parliament will prioritise climate action in its decision making after becoming the first Australian state or territory to declare a climate emergency.

The ACT parliament has declared a climate emergency in the national capital, becoming the first Australian state or territory to do so.

ACT Greens leader and Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury on Thursday moved a motion calling on the major parties to acknowledge a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action.

"The climate emergency status means that the government needs to prioritise climate action," Mr Rattenbury said.

"From now on, every time the government makes a decision we will ask ourselves: what does this decision mean for climate change, for emissions, and for the climate crisis we need to avert?

"If it is not consistent with reducing emissions, then we need to think again."

The motion also condemned the federal government for its "continued failure to enact effective climate change policy".