Overview

The Victorian Government is committed to delivering strong and lasting action on climate change for the community. The Climate Change Act 2017 provides Victoria with a world-leading legislative foundation to manage climate change risks, maximise the opportunities that arise from decisive action, and drive our transition to a climate resilient community and economy with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Under the Climate Change Act 2017 the government must determine emissions reduction targets for 2025 and 2030 by 31 March 2020. It must also develop five yearly sector pledges which describe the actions government will take to reduce Victorian's emissions. The first round of pledges to meet Victoria’s interim target to 2025 must be finalised by 1 August 2020.

There are significant advantages for Victoria in taking strong action on climate change now. We can improve the productivity and competitiveness of Victoria’s economy, while creating new jobs and investment opportunities in emerging low-carbon industries.

Independent Expert Panel's Advice

The government received a report from the Independent Expert Panel on Interim Emissions Reduction Targets chaired by the Hon Greg Combet AM. The Independent Expert Panel’s recommended interim targets and indicative emissions trajectories to 2050 are summarised in the figure below. The Panel’s report will inform the government’s decision on interim targets

Independent Expert Panel graph showing recommended interim targets for 2025 and 2030, and possible trajectories for emissions reductions to net zero by 2050

The report and further details of the Independent Expert Panel can be found at https://engage.vic.gov.au/climate-change-targets-2...

The consultation

The government is now seeking input from Victorians to inform its decision on targets and consideration of priority actions to reduce Victoria’s emissions to inform development of pledges to 2025.

The questions below outline the issues the Victorian Government is particularly interested in receiving stakeholder feedback on. You do not need to answer all questions.

We also welcome written submissions, which can be uploaded at the bottom of this page.

Survey

The Independent Expert Panel's recommended targets

The Independent Expert Panel recommends Victoria set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of:

  • 32-39% below 2005 levels in 2025 and
  • 45-60% below 2005 levels in 2030.

1: Do you support these targets recommended by the Panel?

1a:

As required by the Climate Change Act 2017, the Independent Expert Panel considered a broad range of issues in reaching its recommended targets including:

  • Scientific evidence on the significant risks that climate change poses to Victoria;
  • The actions that Victoria and others (including the Commonwealth government) are already taking to reduce emissions – including the commitment of the international community, through the Paris Agreement, to limit warming to well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change;
  • The implications of Victoria contributing its fair share to limiting global temperature increases in accordance with the Paris goal (emission budgets for Victoria);
  • The availability of significant emissions reduction opportunities across the Victorian
  • economy; and
  • The potential economic, social and environmental benefits and costs of Victoria’s transition to a net zero emissions economy.

Victoria has choices about the emissions reduction pathway, or trajectory, to follow to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Different trajectories imply different costs and benefits over time. The Panel’s advice includes indicative trajectories to 2050 associated with its recommended targets (see figure above and Chapter 5 of the Panel’s report).

3: Do you agree with the Panel’s indicative trajectories to 2050?

3a:

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Victoria

The Independent Expert Panel’s report also identifies opportunities to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions (see Chapter 6 of the Panel’s report).

Your response can be for the whole Victorian economy and/or for individual sectors.

Benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Victoria

Barriers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Victoria

(See Chapter 6 of the Panel’s report)

Impacts of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Victoria

The impact of greenhouse gas emissions reduction policies will vary across sectors and communities in Victoria.

Other Comments

Submit your responses

Can we publish your responses? Required

Please note if you are making comments as an individual, the only information we will publish will include your responses. All identifying information will be removed from the submission before it’s published. Please refer to the Privacy Statement for full details.

Please provide your email if you would like to be kept up to date and receive a copy of your submission.

You have 255 characters left.
Organistation Type (if applicable)

Privacy statement

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is committed to protecting personal information provided by you, in accordance with Victorian privacy laws.

DELWP values your personal information and protects your privacy in compliance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (The Act).

DELWP is collecting the personal information in your submission to administer the public consultation process and inform development of interim emission reduction targets and sector pledges for Victoria.

The information provided in your submission will be collected by DELWP for the purpose of:

  • preparing briefings for the government about interim targets and trajectories to net zero by 2050;
  • informing the development of Victorian policies required to meet interim emission reduction targets and net zero emissions by 2050.

Your contact details may be used by DELWP or its contracted service providers under confidentiality agreements to survey you about your experience with DELWP.

DELWP may do the following with your submission, after removing your name, if you have requested anonymity, and, in all cases, removing your other personal information*:

  • publish a copy of your redacted submission on the DELWP website, or other Victorian Government website for transparency and accountability. Victorian Government websites are accessible worldwide and allow any person to view your submission;
  • quote directly from your submission in documentation;
  • make your submission available to other Victorian Government agencies.

* Personal information includes address, geographical location information, phone numbers or email addresses.

Privacy collection notice

Your submission may remain on external servers, even once DELWP has removed it from the Victorian Government website. All submissions are available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, unless you request confidential status.

If you are making comment as an organisation, your comments may be published, including the name of your organisation.

If you are making comments as an individual, the only information we will publish will include your comments. All identifying information will be removed from the submission before it’s published. If your submission includes “Sensitive Information” under the Act such as information about racial or ethical membership, political association, philosophical beliefs and/or trade union or professional association, it is understood that you consent for us to collect this data.

If you indicate that your submission should remain completely confidential, it will not be published or directly referred to.

You have the right to access and correct your personal information. Requests for access should be sent to:

Project Manager for Mitigation
climate.change@delwp.vic.gov.au

For more information read DELWP's Information Privacy Policy at http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/privacy and the Victorian Privacy and Data Collection Act 2014.