Posts filed under ‘Victorian Government’
Move to end coal in Victoria by 2030
The Greens in the Legislative Council have presented legislation to a second reading to end coal mining, coal burning, and coal to hydrogen processing in Victoria by the end of 2030.
Greens Western Region MP Sarah Mansfield moved the second reading motion of the Energy and Resources Legislation Amendment (Transition Away from Coal) Bill 2023. It will come back for discussion in about 2 weeks time.
In her speech Mansfield acknowledges the Victorian Governments more ambitious climate targets for 2035, which will probably see coal power disappear by that date.
But Mansfield also takes note that brown coal mining could continue as part of coal to hydrogen for export to Japan, with the Government to attempt to sequester emissions in the depleted oil and gas wells in Bass Strait.
(more…)Submission on Impact of Road Safety Behaviours on Vulnerable road users
Climate Action Merribek teamed up with Sustainable Fawkner to preparare a submission to a Legislative Assembly Inquiry into the impact of road safety behaviours on vulnerable road users. It was submitted 19 May 2023.
We started with highlighting problem locations around Merri-bek municipality, particularly in the northern suburbs. This is by no means a comprehensive list but more illustrative of the many issues facing vulnerable users at specific locations. We then highlighted the need to address infrastructure to address safety and also as a response to reduce transport emissions. We came up with the following recommendations:
Invest in Safer infrastructure for vulnerable road users. Increasing safety for vulnerable road users means investing in safer footpaths, crossings, separated bike paths and protected bike lanes, and where pedestrian and cycling traffic is low, more shared use bike paths.
More Safety signage. It also means that more safety signage at key intersections is used warning drivers of both pedestrian and cycling activity, including early start signage for cyclists.
Driver Education. In the past too much emphasis has been placed on changing behaviours of vulnerable road users for their own safety as part of education campaigns. This amounts to ‘Blaming the Victim’. There needs to be a much greater focus on drivers sharing public roads, with an emphasis on safety, and also encouraging use of cycling and walking for local trips.
Addressing safety of vulnerable road users needs to also address the need to reduce transport emissions. The saftey of vulnerable road users and the need to change mobility behavious to reduce emissions should both drive more investment in active transport infrastructure. As dedicated infrastructure improves there is likely to be a compounding increase of active transport mode share reflecting the improved safety environment for vulnerable road users. This requires a boost to recurrent funding for active transport as a proportion of Transport funding in the Victorian budget
Build safe cycling infrastructure along the Strategic Cycling corridors. Sometime, like the extension of the Upfield bike path beyond the M80, this is entirely new infrastructure waiting to be built.
Increase funding to active transport to 20 percent of the state transport budget, as recommended by the United Nations.
(more…)Greater Glider photobombs Wills MP over continued logging in Victorian Native forests at Fawkner Festa
A Greater glider puppet photobombed Federal MP Peter Khalil (Wills) and Kathleen Matthews-Ward – (Broadmeadows ALP candidate) at the Fawkner Festa. Climate activists argue that Logging of native forests is criminal in a climate emergency. The science is clear: Stopping native forest logging is key to getting to net zero argue Australian National University Scientists.
Sometimes you need to be a little cheeky to get a point across.
The Greater glider is a threatened species living in the old growth native forests of Victoria. They would like logging of native forests to end by 2024 at the latest, not 2030. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek up-listed the southern and central Greater Glider species as endangered in a determination reported 9 July 2022.
The Victorian Labor Government has set an end to logging in native forests at 2030, but scientists and activists argue this needs to happen as soon as possible and no later than 2024. According to the science, forest ecosystems are facing collapse, species are facing rapid decline and possible extinction. This is an active issue in the Victorian state election which the Labor Party is not addressing. On a Federal level, review and updating the EPBC Act is important for ensuring logging has to go through the same threatened species assessment as other industries and dump the Regional Forestry Agreement process.
(more…)Forum on Transport issues for Merribek for 2022 #vicvotes state election
Local Candidates for the 2022 state election discussed transport issues for Brunswick and the northern region in a forum organised by The Metropolitan Transport Forum and hosted by the City of Merri-bek at Brunswick Town Hall on 4 October 2022.
Some of the local issues discussed included:
- frequency and reliability of trains on the Upfield Line and the need to duplicate and extend the line;
- better bus services especially on Sundays;
- more level access tram stops to boost accessibility for all;
- safe cycling and provision of local protected cycling infrastructure.
- Refurbishment of Sydney Road to increase safety and liveability for all users
- Brunswick Level Crossing Removal
Submission: Setting Victoria’s 2035 climate target
What should Victoria’s 2035 emissions reduction target be? We strongly believe it should be science based taking into account our carbon budget with global equity considerations. The Victorian Government called for submissions by June 5, 2022. Our submissions concentrated on Transport, as we see that is a major policy blind spot with regard to public transport, active transport and aviation.
- Victoria’s target for 2020 was to cut emissions by 15-20% below 2005 levels. That target was achieved two years early.
- Victoria’s target for 2025 is to cut emissions by 28-33% below 2005 levels.
- Victoria’s target for 2030 is to cut emissions by 45-50% below 2005 levels.
Read our submission for 2025 and 2030 targets in which we argued for at minimum the emissions cuts identified by the Combet review matching the science: of at least 43% by 2025 and 67% by 2030 to have any chance of limiting warming to 1. 5°C. (Download PDF version)
The next short-term target, for 2035, must be set by 31 March 2023. An independent panel of experts will advise on a target for 2035, the best action to reach that target and what the pathways to net zero emissions by 2050 could look like. The Panel will prepare a report with their advice to government by 1 March 2023.
(more…)Victoria sets offshore wind targets of 9GW by 2040
The Victorian Government has set new offshore wind farm targets. Currently there are no offshore wind farms operating in the state, although the Star of the South Project off the Gippsland Coast is well progressed in planning.
The new offshore wind targets:
- 2032 – target of 2 GW
- 2035 – target of 4 GW
- 2040 – target of 9 GW
- 2050 – potential capacity of 13 GW
There are already 3 offshore wind farms on the drawing boards. The 2.1GW Star of the South is the most advanced offshore wind farm project, with estimated construction from 2025 and completion in 2028.
(more…)New Victorian interim climate targets welcome but underwhelming
Today the Victorian Government announced the interim emissions reduction climate targets for 2025 and 2030. This announcement has been delayed for over a year due to the pandemic.
The targets announced are to reduce emissions by 28-33 per cent by 2025 and 45-50 per cent by 2030.
Awesome you say? 50 percent reduction by 2030, similar to what President Biden announced at the Biden Climate Summit on April 22. Not so fast.
The Independent Expert Panel recommended Victoria set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of:
- 32-39% below 2005 levels in 2025 and
- 45-60% below 2005 levels in 2030.
Even this was not consistent with keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees, and the numerous risks enumerated in the IPCC Special Report on Global warming of 1.5C1.
The Combet Review identified emission cuts of at least 43% by 2025 and 67% by 2030 to have any chance of limiting warming to 1. 5°C, yet justified lower targets, even though there is scientific research3 that indicates there are several dangerous tipping points that should require substantial risk minimisation in setting ambitious targets. Read our submission from July 2019.
(more…)Gas leak closes down Sydney Road shops in Coburg: we need transition off gas
Coburg Gas leak
A large gas leak in Coburg has closed down Sydney Road between Bell street and Harding street, threatening the strip shopping area including Victoria Street Mall.
The hazardous gas leak at 424 Sydney Rd, Coburg, has prompted an emergency warning at 12.20pm on Sunday 15 November. Gas fumes spread towards Victoria St Mall. All Gas services in the area have been impacted.
Let’s get this straight: Gas is a fossil fuel. Gas leaks can be dangerous (explosive potential). Breathing Gas can affect our health. There are fugitive emissions leaks throughout the distribution system.
We need to transition residential and business customers off gas both for short term safety and health, and long term climate safety. There are good alternatives to gas for heating, cooking and most industrial uses.
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Green New Deal for Victoria passes in Upper House motion
Samantha Ratnam: Green New Deal for Victoria
On Wednesday the Legislative Council passed a motion for a Green New deal for Victoria. This motion was put forward by the Greens Leader Samantha Ratnam (Northern Metropolitan) and was supported by the Labor Party and by crossbench MPs. It comes just two weeks before the Victorian state budget will be delivered.
Samantha Ratnam is a former Councillor and Mayor of Moreland.
Congratulations to Samantha Ratnam, Leader of the Greens, in putting this motion forward; and for the Labor Party and crossbench MPs, including Fiona Patten from Northern Metropolitan Region, for supporting it.
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Submission: Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria
Matted Flax Lily in Moreland
After the 2019/2020 Summer bushfires we should all be concerned about the loss of biodiversity, the decline in ecosystems. The health of our environment supports the health of human society. Climate change is one of several human related factors driving ecosystem decline. Here is our submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria.
Climate Action Moreland Submission on Ecosystem Decline in Victoria (PDF)
Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 