As state election writs are issued today, ten leading cross-sector organisations unite in demanding that candidates and political parties do not divide Victorian communities with hate and fear this state election.

The open letter, calls on all sides of government to put an end to dirty politics and targeted fear campaigns, and to compete in this election based on a vision of a safe and equal future for all members of the Victorian community.

The survey results are in!

95% of Werribee constituents surveyed support the proposal for a new Great Forest National Park!

Today, volunteers from the Friends of the Earth Forest Collective delivered hundreds of community surveys about Victoria's native forest to Werribee MP and state treasurer, Tim Pallas.

In total, 292 surveys were collected from constituents of Werribee and surrounding districts including Tarneit, Altona, Laverton, Bellarine and Melton. 231 of respondents were from the district of Werribee itself.  

Read a summary of the survey data here

Victoria and New South Wales have released new criteria prioritising economic outcomes for water recovery projects under the Murray Darling Basin Plan

We all know the network of rivers in the Basin is invaluable to communities and indigenous culture. The Basin Plan was developed to restore the health of our river ecosystems after a century of over extraction brought them to the brink of collapse.

The environment was to come first because we can't survive if we kill the river.

The question begs, are water ministers acting to support all life in the Basin?

The 14th international conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT-14), will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 22-25 October.

These conferences are held every two years in a different country, and are the main global forum to discuss the development of carbon capture and storage (or CCS) technology.

Prepare yourself for some glowing media bout how CCS is the answer to the greenhouse emissions that are generated by burning coal. Expect (at least some) politicians to wave the idea of ‘clean coal’ around. The reality isn’t quite as positive.

CCS is one of the false ‘solutions’ to climate change that is routinely peddled by the coal industry and some politicians. A considerable number of conservative politicians (and even a handful of progressives) support it, in the hope it will give us a ‘get out of jail’ free card that will allow us to burn coal without bringing catastrophic global warming down on us.

Environment group Friends of the Earth welcome the Andrews government's announcement Geelong will now be home to Victoria's newest wind energy manufacturing facility, the Vestas Renewable Energy Hub.

“This is exactly the kind of renewable energy investment Victoria needs to create long-term jobs in climate action” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth's renewable energy spokesperson.

The facility will employ 27 people manufacturing wind turbine hubs for the Berrybank and Dundonnell wind farms – successful auction winners as part of Victoria's Renewable Energy Target – and act as a service and training centre.

Friends of the Earth has welcomed the decision by Planning Minister Richard Wynne to require a full Environmental Effects Statement (EES) for AGL’s gas import facility planned for Crib Point in Westernport Bay. It will also consider the high-pressure pipeline proposed by APA which will connect the gas plant to the state’s gas supply.

“This is a welcome move” said Friends of the Earth campaigns co-ordinator Cam Walker. “Given the likely environmental impacts, it is essential that there be a full assessment of the impacts of AGL’s planned gas facility and the associated pipeline.”

We are pleased to see that the EES will investigate the ‘potential environmental, community and cultural impacts of the project including impacts on native vegetation, wildlife, marine life and Aboriginal cultural heritage’.

Victorian environment groups are renewing calls for the creation of new parks and reserves to protect native forests from logging after the release of an audit report revealing state owned logging agency VicForests has failed to achieve the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certificate.

Critically important habitat for Victoria’s faunal emblem, the Leadbeater’s Possum is being logged right now in the Blue Range near Taggerty.   

Despite being notified of the critical habitat that is likely being logged in breach of the law, the environment department are making excuses as to why logging should continue and refusing to investigate. 

Take action - Ask the Minister to stop the logging here

Victoria will go to the polls in less than two months. Community members concerned about climate change impacts are still waiting for opposition leader Matthew Guy and the Liberal party to release a policy to tackle climate change.

Matthew Guy will give a high-profile address on Victoria’s economic future at the Committee for Economic Development Australia in a fortnight. This speech is an opportune moment for the opposition to lay out its plan to rein in emissions and prepare our economy for climate impacts.