The Federal Coalition's refusal to tackle the climate crisis means Victorian must show greater leadership when it comes to cutting emissions. 

Premier Dan Andrews will soon make a decision about the state's first Emissions Reduction Targets. With climate impacts occurring much faster than scientists predicted, the litmus test for the government is whether the targets help keep global warming below 1.5°C. 

Tens of thousands of people across the state have joined the Climate Strike led by school students. Let's make sure Premier Dan Andrews hears the community's call for climate leadership! 

Friends of the Earth's Act on Climate collective is proud to have some School Strike 4 Climate Action people in our network. Here's a message they've written for our supporters across the state: 

Cindy, a school striker, and Lucinda from Friends of Earth's Act on Climate collective here. We officially invite you to the Global Climate Strike on September 20!

The Federal government is failing embarrassingly on climate. Australia's carbon emissions are at a seven-year high and our government wants to open to new coal, gas, and oil projects! Whaaat?

We are in a climate crisis.

Greenland is melting and the Amazon is on fire. And just look into our backyard - last summer we saw record breaking heatwaves and increased bushfires; NSW is in Drought; and Inverloch, Victoria has seen more than 30 meters of coastal erosion caused by rising sea levels. 

The mining and burning of fossil fuels is the number one cause of climate change. If we continue to burn fossil fuels, the IPCC says we will see increasingly 'catastrophic impacts.' 

So three days before the emergency UN Climate Action Summit takes place, School Strikers are calling on workers to put down tools and students to put down their books and join them on September 20!

A Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into community action on climate change is now underway.

The Environment & Planning Committee is investigating the full range of community efforts to tackle the climate crisis to gain insights into the ways in which the government can support them.

The inquiry will have no trouble finding examples of leadership in Victoria. Communities have shown incredible resolve, ingenuity, and creativity for well over a decade.

In all corners of the state one can see inspiring examples of local activism: info nights, market stalls, radio shows, podcasts, community energy projects, citizen science, tree planting, art projects, community gardens, candidates' forums, policy work, and advocacy. 

Here are seven ways the Victorian government (and opposition) can supercharge the community response... 

Friends of the Earth Melbourne welcome the Andrews government announcement it will today introduce legislation to increase Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target (VRET) to 50 percent by 2030, saying its a clear step forward for the state’s energy transition that will create thousands of climate jobs.

“Every time Victoria increases its renewable energy target, the state will benefit from new jobs and investment in climate action” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth Melbourne’s renewable energy spokesperson.

It is predicted the increased VRET will generate thousands of jobs across the state, and secure and additional $5.8 billion in investment by 2030.

“Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target has been critical in kickstarting the sector after years of failure on the climate crisis by the Federal Coalition” added Simons.

“If we are going to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis, we need to build an energy system powered by 100 percent renewable energy, and this announcement takes Victoria one step closer to that outcome” said Simons.

The Victorian Parliament’s Environment & Planning Committee has announced an inquiry into community climate action. It will investigate what urban, regional, and rural communities are doing to tackle the climate crisis and how the state government can support them.

The inquiry comes as the Andrews government resumes its decision-making on Victoria’s first interim Emissions Reduction Targets and will set the scene for the forthcoming state Climate Strategy.

Friends of the Earth welcome the Environment & Planning Committee’s inquiry and say it will allow Members of Parliament to grasp the full scope of the community’s efforts.

“Communities across Victoria are leading when it comes to tackling the climate crisis,” said Act on Climate coordinator, Leigh Ewbank.

“Communities from Portland to Mallacoota and from Yackandandah to the Bass Coast are showing incredible commitment to cut emissions and cope with the impacts of a changing climate.”

“It’s time for Victorian Parliamentarians to catch up with the community and put their shoulder to the wheel.”

The countdown to climate action continues. The Andrews government has less than nine months to set an Emissions Reduction Target for 2025. 

The Federal Coalition has finally caught on to the process occurring in Victoria and they're starting to throw their weight around. Minister for Energy and Emissions Reductions, Angus Taylor, launched a media offensive in late June—branding Victoria’s targets 'crazy.'

Taylor's attack came with revelations EnergyAustralia might close the Yallourn coal power plant years ahead of schedule based on climate and energy policy.

Angus Taylor, the Federal Coalition, EnergyAustralia, and the Australian Industry Group are shaping up as the main Climate Blockers to ambitious climate action in Victoria. 

Here's a quick update on our efforts over the last month...

Time is short...

The Andrews government has kicked off decision making on Victoria's Emissions Reduction Target for 2025 and we have until 22 July to demonstrate strong community support for it to be bold and ambitious.

Will you send a submission to call for a science-based target that meets the 1.5°C challenge?

Australia's emissions are rising due to the Federal Coalition's failure to act on climate. And this failure leaves Victorian communities exposed to intensifying impacts such as heatwaves, droughts, bushfires, extreme weather, and rising sea levels.

Victoria has an opportunity to put the country back on track. So now's the time to take action!

The findings of the ‘Combet report’—the independent advice to the Andrews government on emissions cuts—have been tabled in Parliament. The report has kicked off the decision-making process about Victoria's first interim Emissions Reduction Targets.

Victoria has a legislated target of zero-net emissions by 2050. The government has until 31 March 2020 to set targets for the years 2025 and 2030.

While the Combet Report recommends ‘flexible’ targets of 32-39 percent below 2005 levels by 2025 and 45-60 percent below 2005 levels in 2030, the real test is whether the government will commit to targets that meet the 1.5°C challenge. 

We are 10 reasons why we should fight for science-based targets that are both bold and ambitious... 

The countdown to climate action continues.

The Victorian government has until March 31 next year to set the state's first interim Emissions Reduction Targets.

With the shock re-election of Scott Morrison our campaign to secure science-based targets in Victoria is more important than ever.

While a Federal Coalition government will seek to apply the handbrake to climate action, it's worth noting that we've been here before. And we know how to fight under these conditions.

Not long after Tony Abbott was elected in 2013, the Federal government mounted a sustained attack on renewable energy that saw investment drop by 90 percent and thousands of job losses.

In January 2014 we launched our push for a Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) to make the state a safe haven for the sector. Despite the odds, we never gave up. We built a powerful coalition that included communities; unions; renewable energy companies; and environment groups, and we won!

In 2017, the Andrews government enshrined the Victorian Renewable Energy Target in law and ran the country’s largest-ever reverse auction for new solar and wind projects. The scheme will treble the state’s renewable energy capacity, create 10,000 jobs, and cut emissions in the electricity sector by 16 percent.  

We’ve made Victoria a safe haven for renewable energy. Now we must make it a safe haven for climate action.

Here's a quick update on our efforts over the last month...

The time has come for governments to put their money where their mouth is on climate action... 

The Andrews Labor government must set interim Emissions Reduction Targets by 31 March 2020, release a Climate Strategy the same year, and roll out adaptation plans from 2021.

A big funding boost will be needed to ensure Victoria's efforts to tackle the climate crisis get traction. It's why Friends of the Earth is building the case for the state's first #ClimateBudget.   

The budget process has evolved over decades to adapt to new challenges. The time has come to bring it into the 21st century to account for the climate crisis. A #ClimateBudget would:

1. Increase investment in initiatives that rein in emissions and help protect communities from climate impacts.

2. Ensure greater transparency of budget expenditure on mitigation, adaptation, and disaster response. 

3. Adopt carbon valuation to make wiser investment decisions and avoid wasting money on climate-wrecking projects.

4. Incorporate community leadership to ensure investment is relevant to local climate impacts.

There's no 'one-size-fits-all' solution to the climate crisis. Each city, town, and district faces its own challenges and each community has its own vision for how to respond. What unites these communities is the need for state government support. 

Sign up below to support our campaign for Victoria’s first #ClimateBudget! (We'll contact you about exciting actions coming up in 2019)