2020-12-10
Greenhouse gas emissions from gas and transport are on the rise in Victoria while coal continues to account for nearly half of our total emissions, according to a report released today.
The report – tabled by the Victorian Labor Government – revealed that while the state had cut back on its overall emissions by 17.5 per cent since 2005, there were still worrying areas on the rise.
Some of the more alarming statistics include:
- That emissions from gas power stations have increased
- That our brown coal-fired power stations accounted for 42.7 per cent of our total emissions in 2018
- That transport is the fastest rising source of emissions in Victoria
Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, said the government had made a number of welcome investments in renewable energy recently, but that they risked being undermined if the government didn’t have a plan to address gas emissions and get Victoria off coal.
Victorian Greens spokesperson for transport, Sam Hibbins, said that the recently proposed tax on people who drive electric cars would also hold Victoria back from tackling climate change by disincentivising people from taking up electric car use.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
"Victoria has made some great progress on renewable energy, but the Victorian Government refuses to address the elephant in the room: coal and gas. Victoria needs to stop gas exploration, stop logging, and come up with a plan to transition away from coal and gas."
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens spokesperson for transport, Sam Hibbins MP:
"With transport being the largest growing source of emissions, why on Earth is the state Labor government making electric cars even more expensive?
"To cut back on our transport emissions the government needs to scrap its proposed tax on people who drive electric cars."