PRINCIPLES
1. Human-induced climate change poses one of the greatest threats to our world in human history and requires urgent local, national and global action.
2. We are already experiencing dangerous impacts of climate change; urgent, deep, and broad action is required to avoid catastrophic impacts.
3. The amount of greenhouse gas already in the atmosphere necessitates urgent emission reduction and drawdown of greenhouse gases as well as prompt adaptation to climate change.
4. Early action to reduce greenhouse emissions is cheaper and fairer than delayed action.
5. Climate change policy should be based on the best available science.
6. Climate change policy should inform and frame all other policies.
7. Victoria is one of the world’s largest per-capita emitters of greenhouse gases with a large percentage due to the burning of brown coal.
9. The lack of effective global (or Australian) climate action must not prevent Victoria from taking immediate and comprehensive measures.
10. Climate change adaptation and mitigation measures should not discriminate or treat anyone unfairly on any basis including gender, age, race, ethnicity, vulnerability, religion, disability, sexual orientation or membership of a minority group.
AIMS
Mitigation
1. Net zero or negative emissions as soon as possible, including drawdown of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, in a way that is environmentally responsible and socially fair.
2. Development and implementation of a detailed plan to end Victoria’s reliance on fossil fuels by shifting to a low carbon economy.
3. Victoria positioned, through innovation, to capitalise on the new jobs, skills, technologies and markets available in a low carbon economy.
4. Transition support for all regions, businesses and communities adversely affected by measures that reduce climate change.
5. Regulation of the phasing-out of existing coal-fired power stations and the banning of new fossil-fuel based power stations.
6. A ban on the exploration and development of new fossil fuel resources including but not limited to coal seam and other forms of unconventional gas.
7. Complementary mitigation measures developed and implemented in collaboration with other governments where possible.
8. Assistance to the Agriculture and Forestry sectors to reduce emissions from ruminant livestock production and land clearing and other sources.
9. Maximise effective and sustainable carbon farming, bio-sequestration and other drawdown methods.
10. Victoria’s stationary energy sector affords realistic opportunities for emission reduction that are low cost, and with high impact. As well, other sectors need to reduce emissions including but not limited to transport, industrial processes, agriculture and forestry.
Adaptation
11. Government support for adaptive actions to protect the environment and key public assets, and to manage major public risks.
12. The implementation, through public and private action, of the Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Plan, and ongoing review with community and expert involvement.
13. Assisting the Agriculture sector to adjust to reduced water availability and to make itself more energy self-sufficient.
14. Ensuring that coastal zone planning regulations allow for expected impacts of climate change such as rising sea levels, storm surges and extreme weather events.
15. Adaptation measures that take account of those groups disproportionately impacted by climate change and resulting disasters and emergencies
Climate Policy as adopted by State Council on 19 March 2022.