The Andrews government has announced its long-awaited and highly-anticipated interim Emissions Reduction Targets. It committed to reduce emissions by 28-33 percent below 2005 levels by 2025 and 45-50 percent by 2030.
Friends of the Earth and allies campaigned to secure science-based climate targets for Victoria since 2017.

We were pushing for a world-leading cut of 75 percent by 2030—a target that scientists say is necessary to achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C—and ended up with a commitment to halve Victoria's emissions over the next decade.

While the 2030 target adopted by the Andrews government was not what we were calling for, it is a significant outcome for national climate policy and politics. Here’s why.

We're back for 2021. And after so much time indoors last year, we're returning to the campaign trail with renewed energy.

This year is shaping up as a turning point for global efforts to tackle the climate crisis. The United States is back in the game and countries will be lifting their ambition at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow.
 
Here in Victoria, the Andrews government is starting the year with unfinished business on climate. It is yet to set or announce the long-awaited Emissions Reduction Targets for 2025 and '30—a decision that will determine the pace of Victoria's transition to a clean economy and ability to attract new industries and secure jobs.

It's fair to say we're fired up to secure Victoria's climate targets, so here’s a quick update on our efforts over the last month and upcoming actions...

After the many months of lockdown, the decision to open up Victoria to fossil gas exploration, and the deferral of Emissions Reduction Targets, we finally have some GOOD NEWS:

This week, the Andrews government announced a plan to repower all the state’s schools, hospitals, and metro trains with renewable energy!  

The announcement has put even more spring in our step as we continue our campaign for Climate Justice. 

Here’s a quick update on our efforts over the last month...

Friends of the Earth Melbourne expresses great disappointment that the Victorian government has deferred setting the state’s first interim Emissions Reduction Targets. It is the second time this has occurred.

When the Andrews government strengthened the Victorian Climate Change Act 2017  it introduced deadlines to ensure our state’s response to the climate crisis is swift and steady. It demonstrated a keen awareness of the urgency of the issue when enshrining these deadlines in law.

Since 2017, community members across the state have been calling on the government to set science-based targets that contribute towards the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global warming below 1.5°C.

It is an outcome that would accelerate the rollout of renewables, increase investment in sustainable transport, require greater protection of forests and the natural world, and help protect communities from intensifying impacts. 

Friends of the Earth Melbourne's Act on Climate collective officially launched its push to write a People's Climate Strategy for Victoria with over one thousand people watching the online launch via Zoom and Facebook live. The strong level of interest is a vote of confidence in the idea.

Writing a People's Climate Strategy for Victoria to present to the Andrews government later this year is a bold and ambitious undertaking. But shaping the state's first climate strategy is an opportunity that can't be missed.

The Victorian government is required to prepare and rollout a climate strategy every five years out to 2050. Our efforts in coming months will influence the Labor government's own plan (which must be prepared by October 31) as well as all those that follow it.  

Friends of the Earth and the Act on Climate collective cant do it alone... 

The collective needs your help to ensure the strategy is robust, capable of getting us to zero emissions as-soon-as-possible, and leaves no Victorian behind.

Here are the immediate next steps...

It's crunch time for our long-standing campaign for science-based Emissions Reduction Targets in Victoria.

The Andrews government's decision is just weeks away and time is running out to make the case for keeping global warming below 1.5°C.

The summer bushfires and the impact they’ve had on communities, first responders, wildlife and the natural world has shown what’s at stake if we fail to tackle the climate crisis.

And that awareness inspired us to ramp things up in February.  

Over the last month, we...

• Brought together Friends of the Earth collectives for the final push on Emissions Reduction Targets.
• Distributed a statement from Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action to MPs on the steps of Parliament.
• Briefed Labor government MPs about the need for targets to help keep global warming below 1.5C.
• Took action on the streets of Melbourne to defend the community’s hard-won moratorium on gas drilling.
• Secured statewide media attention with a human sign on the doorstep of the Premier’s electorate.
• Facilitated a meeting between the Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action and Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.
• Gave testimony to the Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into community action on climate change.
• Met with EnergyAustralia to call on them to publicly support science-based targets.
• Secured regional media with a human sign at the iconic Hepburn Wind farm.
• Held market stalls, delivered public presentations, and more. 

With less than four weeks left to influence Premier Dan Andrews’ thinking on state Emissions Reduction Targets, we have to take the same level of effort to the campaign in March.

And that’s EXACTLY what we intend to do!

In less than two months, the Andrews government will make its decision on the state’s first Emissions Reduction Targets for 2025 and ’30. And we’re not wasting a minute calling for ambition. 

The summer bushfires and the impact they’ve had on communities, responders, wildlife and the natural world remind us what’s at stake if we fail to tackle the climate crisis.

Here’s a quick update on our efforts over the last month...