Premier, will you be a climate leader?

Dear Premier Andrews,

I am calling on you to demonstrate your climate leadership by committing to science-based climate targets that are stronger than the recommendations of the independent panel.

Victoria is already experiencing the impacts of climate change and the people in your state are looking to you to make decisions consistent with giving us a good chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. This means:

• 45-50% cuts by 2025
• 65-80% cuts by 2030

You have already shown leadership by putting Victoria on a path to become a clean energy powerhouse. By setting us on a science-based trajectory consistent with 1.5 degrees we can send clear market signals and make sure Victoria benefits from more investment and job creation opportunities that come with unlocking clean energy solutions.

Settling for the lower range of the panel’s targets would be a choice not to lead. Not only would we miss out on clean jobs and investment, but we would condemn our communities to a future of climate chaos. It would let down the thousands of Victorians who are looking to you to fill the federal vacuum by sending a signal to politicians around the world that states can take real action.

You are the leader of the most progressive state in the country. Climate change is fundamentally an issue about fairness and equality. Cutting emissions is about protecting the most vulnerable people in our communities from the impacts of a warmer and more dangerous world. Taking climate action is about protecting jobs, industries and families from an uncertain future.

I call on you to step up and put Victoria on the fastest path to cutting pollution, making sure no one is left behind.