The State of Victoria
Population: 5.3 million (2008)
GHG Emissions: 120.32 MtCO2e (2006)
Targets/Goals
The Victorian Government has played a significant role in progressing climate change policy in Australia in recent years. Victoria has played a leadership role nationally in implementing the Victorian Renewable Energy Target, undertaking innovative energy efficiency programs, and leading the push to introduce a national emissions trading scheme in Australia. Victorias targets include:
- Reducing Victorias overall emissions to 60 per cent by 2050 (based on 2000 levels).
- Renewable energy target of 10% by 2016.
- Reducing emissions from households by 10 per cent by 2010.
- Committing to reduce government energy use by 20 per cent by 2010 (based on 2000 levels).
Top Actions
The Government is currently working towards a Climate Change Green Paper at the beginning of 2009 and a White Paper to be released mid-2009.
Energy Efficiency
- Placing a requirement that new homes in Victoria have to be
built to a 5 star energy standard was introduced in July 2004. This
is projected to generate Victoria-wide savings on household energy
bills of AU$30 to AU$40 million (US$20 to $27 million) per annum
after 5 years and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2 million
tonnes over the first 10 years.
- The Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007(the Act),
passed in December 2007 and scheduled to commence on 1 January
2009, establishes the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET)
scheme. The scheme sets a target for energy savings, initially in
the residential sector, and requires energy retailers to meet their
own targets through energy efficiency activities, such as providing
households with energy saving products and services at little or no
cost. In the first three years of operation, the scheme is expected
to result in 8.1 million tonnes of GHG avoided, and result in an
average annual household energy savings of AU$45 (US$30).
- Victoria is delivering Australias first energy efficiency program for industry, through the Environment Resource Efficiency Plan (EREP) which has seen greenhouse gas reductions of about 1.2 million tonnes each year since 2002 and has expected annual energy cost savings of AU$38 million (US$25 million) by Victorias 250 biggest energy and water users.
Renewable Energy
- Since its introduction, the Victorian Renewable Energy Target,
which mandates a minimum of 10% renewable energy by 2016, has
initiated over AU$2 billion (US$1.3 billion) worth of investment in
wind, solar and hydro projects and around 2200 new jobs. This will
give rise to over 1000 megawatts the equivalent of about half the
capacity of Victorias largest power station.
- Through the Energy Technology Innovation Strategy (ETIS) the
government has committed over AU$187 million (US$126 million) in
low-emission energy technologies. This includes committing AU$50
million (US$34 million) to the worlds largest photovoltaic (PV)
solar power station in northern Victoria which will stimulate
investment of more than AU$420 million (US$283 million) and create
950 jobs during construction and 44 ongoing roles. This new solar
station will be pollution free and reduce Victorias greenhouse gas
emissions by 396,000 tonnes a year.
- Victoria will offer a Premium Solar Power Feed-in Tariff starting in 2009, to provide an added incentive for households to install solar panels on their homes. Under this scheme, households will be paid 60 cents for every unused kilowatt hour of electricity fed back into the grid. The scheme is to be introduced in 2009 and run for 15 years.
Transportation
- Introducing TravelSmart programs which have achieved increases
of up to 30% in public transport usage in those areas where the
programs have been implemented. An AU$135m expansion of the
TravelSmart program is planned.
- Greening our car fleet - ensuring the government fleet contains at least 150 hybrid cars, and that AU$500,000 is invested annually in maintaining a carbon neutral fleet.
Waste management
- More than AU$1 billion (US$675 million) has already been
invested in Victoria by the waste management industry in the past
10 years to enable the processing of recovered materials. 62% of
all Victorias solid waste was recycled in 2006-07.
- The Towards Zero Waste Strategy focuses on progressing Victoria towards becoming a low waste society by 2014. Implementing the Towards Zero Waste Strategy, will result in a net reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the equivalent of up to 16 million tonnes of greenhouse gas prevented from entering the atmosphere.
Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use
- Victoria is providing AU$4 million (US$2.7 million) from the
Regional Development Infrastructure Fund for On Farm Energy Grants
to encourage more efficient energy usage.
- AU$14 million (US$9 million) has been invested in a world-first
scheme called ecoMarkets to give farmers new incentives to protect
the health of soil, land, waterways and biodiversity.
- Plantations for Greenhouse AU$1.9 million program that has seen
1350 hectares of new long term timber and carbon sink farm forests
established across the state.
- CarbonTender AU$3 million invested for establishing new
vegetation that is permanent and indigenous on sites with high
biodiversity values.
- BushTender AU$2.7 million invested in 2006 to expand the
BushTender program, to improve native vegetation outcomes on
private land .
- Plantation Investment Strategy: AU$9 million for the promotion of commercial tree-growing.
Promoting Low Carbon Technology
- The Centre for Energy and Greenhouse Technologies supports the commercial deployment of low greenhouse-intensive technologies, such as renewable energy and technologies.
Links
Victorian Climate Change Program
Our Environment, Our Future - Sustainability Action Statement 2006