Friends of the Earth have launched a new report on the job-creation potential of Victorian climate policies at the Gippsland office of Australia's first proposed offshore wind farm, the Star of the South.  

The new report contains University of Melbourne modelling that shows the Victorian government could help create over 50,000 jobs by setting science-based Emissions Reduction Targets.

The report, which outlines a strategy to achieve an emissions cut of 75 percent over the next decade, comes as the Andrews government makes its final decision on state Emissions Reduction Targets for 2025 and '30.

"Premier Dan Andrews will soon make a decision on Victoria's Emissions Reduction Targets. This decision is not just about climate. It's about jobs," said Leigh Ewbank of Friends of the Earth. 

Dr. Dylan McConnell of the University of Melbourne, lead researcher of the modelling, noted Victoria's improved emissions reduction performance:


"We weren't sure that Victoria could deliver reductions consistent with Paris Agreement commitments, but after this modelling exercise we're now confident the Andrews government can deliver science-based Emissions Reduction Targets." 

Friends of the Earth has launched a new report on the job-creation potential of Victorian climate policies at Australia's largest wind turbine tower maker, Keppel Prince in Portland.  

The new report contains University of Melbourne modelling that shows the Victorian government could help create over 50,000 jobs by setting science-based Emissions Reduction Targets.

The report, which outlines a strategy to achieve an emissions cut of 75 percent over the next decade, comes as the Andrews government makes its final decision on state Emissions Reduction Targets for 2025 and '30.

"Premier Dan Andrews will soon make a decision on Victoria's Emissions Reduction Targets. This decision is not just about climate. It's about jobs," said Leigh Ewbank of Friends of the Earth. 

Keppel Prince Executive Director, Steve Garner, noted Friends of the Earth's long-standing support for Portland's wind workers at a press conference this morning: 

"The relationship between Friends of the Earth and Keppel Prince has always been about climate and jobs," said Garner, "and we look forward to that relationship strengthening even further into the future."

Victorian Minister for Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio has flagged the deadline for the state government to set long-awaited Emissions Reduction Targets.

Australian Energy Daily reports Minister D'Ambrosio told a CEDA webinar on Friday (11 Sept) that the Andrews government would set interim Emissions Reduction Targets for 2025 and '30 by the end of the year:

"Not only will we be setting those interim emissions targets by the end of this year, we will have a budget consideration that goes to the various pledges that we will be making in important sectors that include energy, include transport, industrial processes, agriculture and LULUCF [land use, land-use change, and forestry]," said Minister Lily D'Ambrosio.  

"I'm actually looking forward to announcing what our new targets will be for further reductions in emissions as we get closer to the end of this year."

The Minister's public comments are the first to detail a timeline for setting targets since the government announced it had deferred a decision due to the escalating pandemic. The targets were originally expected to be set by March 31 and announced in June.