Victoria appears to have listened to councils’ demands for climate consideration in planning. 

Victoria's local government sector has long been advocating for greater consideration of climate change in the state's planning system. 

The State Government has introduced a bill into Parliament that responds to recommendations two years after the release of the "Climate Change & Planning in Victoria" report, commissioned by the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) and the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances.

The bill, which amends the Planning and Environment Act, recognises the role that planning plays in addressing climate change. 

Given that the built environment contributes significantly to Victoria's emissions, this move represents significant progress, aligning with the desires of councils and their communities.

President of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), Cr David Clark, emphasised the leading role of local government in climate action, saying; “For years, the MAV, CASBE, and the Greenhouse Alliances have called for stronger consideration of climate change in the planning system. It's great to see that the research commissioned by CASBE and the alliances has informed a number of the key changes being proposed.”

“It is critical that the planning system supports councils in requiring developers to actively address climate change risks in their applications,” he said. 

“This bill goes a long way to achieving that goal, and we look forward to the bill receiving the cross-party support it deserves when Parliament resumes in 2024.”

Key changes in the Climate Change and Energy Legislation Amendment (Renewable Energy and Storage Targets) Bill 2023 include:

  • Renames the Climate Change Act 2017 to the Climate Action Act 2017

  • Advances the net-zero emissions target from 2050 to 2045

  • Enshrines previously announced interim targets in legislation

  • Updates the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to explicitly consider state climate change policies, emissions reduction targets, and resilience in planning objectives

  • Imposes an additional duty on planning authorities, primarily councils, to consider emissions reduction targets and climate change impacts in use or development

  • Empowers the Minister to issue directions specifying how this consideration should occur

  • Raises the renewable energy target from 50 per cent to 65 per cent by 2030

  • Legislates a 95 per cent renewable energy target by 2035

  • Introduces targets for energy storage and offshore wind generation, including 2.6 gigawatts of storage by 2030 and 6.3 gigawatts by 2035, as well as 2 gigawatts of offshore wind generation by 2032, 4 gigawatts by 2035, and 9 gigawatts by 2040