Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy 2026-30 was released by the Victorian Government on 20 November 2025. It sets the state's course for reducing emissions as well as strengthening climate resilience over the next five years.
The Strategy has good plans in place to improve the state's climate preparedness, but it is lacking in certain aspects and has seemingly stepped back on building upon the "foundations for transformational adaptation" it supported the laying of in the previous strategy.
The government’s adaptation planning work needs to be backed up with adequate and ongoing funding and improved transparency, public communication, and consultation. This is needed to ensure communities are properly prepared for and aware of the climate impacts forecast to affect them, as well as being aware of the adaptation solutions being implemented and available to them to improve their safety and reduce their anxiety around climate impacts.
We need concrete, clearly laid out Adaptation Action Plans (due in 2026) that implement the recommendations made in the Inquiry into Climate Resilience and ensure the achievement of the immediate and extensive adaptation solutions needed to prepare Victorian communities and keep everyone safe as we adapt to a changing climate.
Read Act on Climate's full response to the release of Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy 2026-30 below.
Act on Climate applauds the Victorian Government for the acknowledgement and inclusion of the need to invest in reducing risk before climate disasters strike and to support local resilience to escalating climate impacts. We also applaud its strong stance on First Nations determination, supporting those most at risk, and reducing workers’ vulnerability and exposure to climate impacts.
We welcome the Victorian Government updating climate vulnerability assessments and developing adaptation options, and we commend it on the programs it has in place for water management and reducing flood risk.
However, the government’s adaptation planning work needs to be backed up with adequate and ongoing funding and improved transparency, public communication, and consultation. This is needed to ensure communities are properly prepared for and aware of the climate impacts forecast to affect them, as well as being aware of the adaptation solutions being implemented and available to them to improve their safety and reduce their anxiety around climate impacts.
The vulnerability assessments need to be completed as soon as possible and shared with the people of Victoria. Victoria has not released a public climate change risk assessment, falling behind other states that have done so. There needs to be more detail, transparency and information on who is accountable for the adaptation options being developed and the products and tools planned to be delivered. This needs to be laid out clearly in the upcoming Adaptation Action Plans 2027–31.
The installation of energy backup systems and the Government’s 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program are good examples of concrete adaptation solutions being funded and implemented. These programs have also been well communicated with the public.
Strong, Funded Adaptation Action Plans Fundamental
The Adaptation Action Plans 2027–31 the government will prepare in 2026 need to have clear actions and funding allocated for each of them. Previously, the implementation and funding of Victoria’s Adaptation Action Plans has been haphazard, disparate and disproportionate to what is required.
The Plans also need clear allocation of actions and accountability measures in place, such as a process for public reporting on overall adaptation progress. They need to include documented owners and delivery timelines for specific actions, as well as how these actions will be funded.
Further, it is vital that the Adaptation Action Plans 2027–31 heed and include the recommendations made in the Inquiry into Climate Resilience.
We applaud the commitment to support self-determination for Traditional Owners, to care for Country and culture in shaping the Adaptation Action Plans 2027–31, as well as the focus on those most at risk, and ensuring a just transition for workers. These are all vital for just adaptation. It also needs to be ensured that adaptation is community-led and grounded in community knowledge, expertise and priorities to ensure just adaptation and that maladaptation is avoided.
'Transformational' Aspirations Missing
In the previous Climate Change Strategy’s five-point plan, the Victorian Government stated its “actions will support the laying of foundations for transformational adaptation”. It has not gone unnoticed that this vital word, ‘transformational’ is not present in the latest version of the Climate Change Strategy. Transformational climate adaptation, rather than reactive or incremental adaptation implied by “managing climate impacts”, goes beyond simply adjusting existing practices and is vital to accelerate and embed adaptation and build a climate resilient society.
We look forward to concrete, clearly laid out Adaptation Action Plans that implement the recommendations made in the Inquiry into Climate Resilience and ensure the immediate and extensive adaptation solutions needed to prepare Victorian communities and keep everyone safe as we adapt to a changing climate.
Act on Climate acknowledge that we work on the stolen lands of the Wurundjeri people. Sovereignty was never ceded, and fighting for First Nations justice must always be a core part of climate justice work.