Victoria set to lead the way as Andrews eyes deepest carbon cuts yet

Victoria’s state Labor government will sign off on deep new emission cut targets by the end of Australia’s horror bushfire summer, with potential reductions of up to 40 per cent likely to put pressure on the state’s ageing coal-fired power plants.

Tougher emissions reduction targets will put pressure
on Victoria's brown coal-fired electricity generators. 

In a move that will expand the gap between Victorian and federal climate policy aims, the state government has confirmed it will comply with its obligations under its own Climate Change Act and impose emissions cuts targets of no less than 20 per cent by March 31.

The state’s main advisor on its interim emissions targets, former federal Labor politician Greg Combet, says the severity and the extent of the bushfires has sharpened the national focus on climate change and called on some politicians to “stop denying the science”.

Mr Combet’s expert panel’s longer term advice is even more ambitious, calling for cuts of up to 60 per cent by 2030, more than twice the target being pursued by the federal government.

Read the story from The Age why Noel Towell - “Victoria set to lead the way as Andrews eyes deepest carbon cuts yet.”