Climate change in Victoria
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Climate change in Victoria affects various environments and industries, including agriculture.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Victoria's emissions decreased from 123.23 million tonnes in 2005 to 84.72 million tonnes in 2022 representing a reduction of 31.3% over this time period.[1]
Impacts of climate change
Built environment
The state's infrastructure was not built with extreme weather in mind, and is therefore considered to be unprepared according to a report by Infrastructure Victoria - it estimates that disaster recovery may cost $1,000,000,000,000 by 2100.[2]
Response
Policies
In 2021, the Victorian government released its Climate Change Strategy.[3]
In 2024, the Victorian government approved a new license for a gas project on Victoria's Great Ocean Road.[4] From 2024 and onward, gas connections in new homes have been banned.[4]
Power stations are not required to install fabric filters, but health advocates have proposed it to the state government.[5]
Legislation
Climate Change Act 2017
| Climate Change Act 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Parliament of Victoria | |
| |
| Citation | No. 5 of 2017 |
| Assented to | 2024-04-26 |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill title | Climate Change Bill 2016 |
| Keywords | |
| emissions targets | |
| Status: In force | |
The Act requires that the Victorian government to set interim emissions reduction targets on the way to net zero emissions by 2050.[6]
The Act has many of the features of typical framework climate legislation, including emissions reductions targets, mitigation strategies, adaptation plans.[7] The Act requires the Victorian government to prepare sector-specific plans to adapt the state to climate change and mitigate emissions.[8]
The Act also explicitly requires that climate change be considered in government decisions, policies, programs and processes and a more specific duty to have due to regard to climate change in prescribed decisions.[7]
The Act was found not to require setting a limit on greenhouse gas emissions on coal plants.[9] According to a judgement of the Supreme Court of Victoria, climate change only needs to be considered and climate change was considered in the decision not to set a limit.[9]