Victoria announces zero-emissions target and pledge program

The Victorian Government yesterday committed to reinstating itself as a leader in climate change action, pledging a long-term emissions reduction target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The government announced a whole-of-government pledge program, TAKE2, for state and local government, business, industry and the community to pledge their own commitment to take action on climate change and keep Victoria’s emissions low. Pledges will contribute to Victoria’s first interim target to 2020 and inform future climate change policy, with current actions and new commitments to be captured by Sustainability Victoria.

The program calls for Victorians to ‘TAKE2’ steps, beginning with taking the universal pledge “Working together, we pledge to play our part and take action on climate change for Victoria, our country and our planet”. On Pledge Action Day in August, pledgers will be asked to demonstrate what actions they have taken to help meet this pledge.

“TAKE2 is a great opportunity for all Victorians to get involved and build on the work already being done locally to deliver innovative projects that reduce the harmful impacts of climate change,” said Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan.

“Through our climate change community conversations earlier this year, we learnt that communities want to see more people taking action on climate change and strong leadership from government.

“This is about collective climate change action, so we encourage those who make a pledge to share it with their social networks and influence others to make their own commitment.”

Sustainability Victoria will undertake consultations with leading sectors later this month to develop a series of specific actions designed for individual sectors. These identified actions will inform the actions people commit to on Pledge Action Day.

The net zero emissions target has been welcomed by Environment Victoria, with CEO Mark Wakeham saying, “Setting a clear target for reaching zero climate pollution provides a strong signal for all future government and business decisions.” He added that Environment Victoria will be “strongly encouraging our 70,000 Victorian supporters to pledge to cut their climate pollution to zero by 2020”.

The Energy Efficiency Council, one of 16 founding industry partners of TAKE2, noted that government departments will have to upgrade hospitals, schools and public buildings to meet their commitments. The Victorian Government will thus need to restart the Greener Government Buildings program that was introduced by the previous state Labor government, but put on ice in 2014.

Meanwhile, Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said the zero-emissions target can only become a reality following “the orderly closure of Victoria’s polluting coal-fired power stations to make way for modern, efficient renewables”.

To join the pledge, visit www.take2.vic.gov.au.