The Andrews Government has delivered yet another blow to the environment under the cover of COVID-19 with the announcement it will delay setting emissions reduction targets for Victoria.
This comes just weeks after the Andrews Government also opened up Victoria to gas drilling across the state.
While the government is understandably focusing much of its attention on the pandemic, it’s important that our climate doesn’t become one of its casualties.
Setting strong emissions reduction targets as soon as possible will help Victoria end its long-term relationship with dirty fossil fuels like coal and gas and transition to cleaner, renewable energy.
The Victorian Greens want to see ambitious targets of 50 per cent by 2025 and 80 per cent by 2030, which scientists say is Victoria’s fair share in keeping the world below a 1.5 degree temperature rise.
Acting Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, said the impact of climate change and bushfires would only get worse if we continue to do nothing.
Strong emissions targets would also create 15,000 jobs according to the Climate Council, and would help the state’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession.
As stated by Acting Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
“Australia’s worst fire season in history, fuelled by climate change, was just six months ago.
“Even though we’re facing a difficult time with COVID right now, climate change and bushfire risk unfortunately haven’t gone away and will only get worse if we don’t act.
“Now is a time for governments to build jobs in clean energy to help us out of a recession, it’s not the time to delay climate action.”
