Victorians asked to decide what emissions levels should be

The Andrews government has asked Victorians to decide what the state’s emissions target should be for 2035 after committing to net zero by 2050.

Victorians will be asked to decide what the state’s emissions levels should fall to by 2035, with the Andrews government putting the target out to community consultation.

The state has already committed to achieving net zero by 2050, with its first goal of reaching or bringing emissions down from 2005 levels by up to 20 per cent already achieved.

In 2025, Victoria hopes to lift this benchmark to between 28 and 33 per cent and by 2030 this will rise to 45 to 50 per cent.

But there is currently no target for 2035 and the government has asked the Victorian community to help decide what it should be.

Climabe Change Minister Lily D’Amborio has hit out at the federal government over its net zero policies. Picture: Daniel Pockett

An independent panel will consider feedback and provide advice by March 1, 2023.

In announcing the process, Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio took a whack at the federal government over its net zero policies.

“While Scott Morrison was carrying coal into parliament, we legislated world-leading targets to cut emissions, combat climate change and create jobs in the clean energy economy for Victorians,” she said.

“We’re continuing to lead when it comes to fighting climate change – we were one of the first places in the world to legislate a net zero emissions target and we are the only state in Australia to set interim targets every five years.”

Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor told the Herald Sun that “at the end of the day, what matters is the outcome”.

“We will wait and see how that comes out,” Mr Taylor said.

“We care about bringing down emissions but we want to do it in a way which is sustainable for households and businesses.”