Media Releases | 6th Jun, 2019

New report: Andrews government faces major test of climate credentials

Environment Victoria is calling on the Andrews government to set stronger targets than the advice given by its independent panel that was tabled in Parliament today.

Headed by Greg Combet, the panel’s advice seeks to inform the government’s decision on emissions targets for 2025 and 2030, recommending the following targets:

  • 32-39% cuts by 2025
  • 45-60% cuts by 2030

However Environment Victoria’s independent analysis shows that to keep warming to 1.5 degrees, targets must be:

  • 45-50% by 2025
  • 65-80% by 2030

“The recommended targets are quite simply not enough,” said Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze.

“By their own analysis the panel indicates that a more appropriate target for 2030, to keep warming to 1.5 degrees, would be 67%.

“There is a big difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees of warming. It is the difference between saving the world’s coral reefs and millions of people losing their homes to rising sea levels and lives to extreme weather events.

“The Andrews government already have a target of net zero emissions by 2050, but it is what we do in the next critical decade that matters for both the climate and for investment in Victoria.

“We call on the Andrews government to set targets that give Victorians a better chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees.

“The recommended targets are no stronger than what the Climate Change Authority put forward five years ago. In that time, global emissions have continued to rise, our awareness of the severe impacts has grown, and the technology available to cut emissions has improved markedly.

“Making a strong commitment to cut pollution over the next ten years will provide investment certainty and allow Victorians to reap the benefits of strong investment and job creation opportunities in our state.

“Policies to maintain our renewable energy boom will enable Victoria to slash emissions across the board including from transport and the burning of gas for heat. This could eliminate a large portion of Victoria’s greenhouse pollution and enable us to meet stronger emissions targets.

“The Combet report leaves no doubt that the Andrews government must commit to urgent action on climate pollution to help avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

“The policy vacuum in Canberra shows it is up to state leaders like Daniel Andrews to take action to address the climate emergency and encourage business to step on the investment accelerator.

“As the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said: ‘Every bit of warming matters. Every year matters. Every choice matters.’ The Andrews government now has a big choice before it. We will work with them, and all Victorians, to make sure it is the right choice,” said Mr La Nauze.

Jono La Nauze, Environment Victoria CEO

Mobile: 0402 904 251
Email: j.lanauze@environmentvictoria.org.au

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