Overview
After pledging to introduce a container deposit scheme by 2023, and to ban single-use plastics by the same year, the Victorian Government has announced its next big eco-conscious policy. This time, it's tackling climate change by committing to reduce the state's carbon emissions — and it has set ambitious targets for the next four, nine and 29 years.
By 2025, the government plans to slash carbon emissions by up to a third (28–33 percent, to be exact). When 2030 rolls around, it's aiming to have cut them by half (or between 45–50 percent). And, after that, it has set a zero net emissions goal for 2050.
The new emissions plan was revealed this week as part of the current Labor government's climate change strategy, which also highlights some of the strategies in place to meet those targets. On the cards: putting more than $100 million towards transforming the transport sector, working towards zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) comprising 50 percent of all new car sales by 2030, and giving Victorians who buy ZEVs up to $3000. The latter was announced on Saturday, May 1, and has already come into effect — and will cover more than 20,000 new ZEVs initially.
The government has also outlined its intention to invest around $20 million in the agriculture sector — to work with farmers to make their farms more sustainable, and to research and trial new feed options to reduce emissions from livestock. It's putting another $15.3 million towards helping farmers store more carbon in shelterbelt trees, and to engage in agroforestry as well.
By 2025, the government's own operations — which includes schools, hospitals, police stations and metro trains — will be powered with 100 percent renewable electricity. It's also aiming to have 40 percent of the entire state do the same by the same year, and 50 percent of the state by 2030.
The government's targets are based on 2005 levels, with the state already cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 24.8 over the past 16 years.
For more information about the Victorian Government's climate change strategy, head to its website.