Victoria’s environmental regulator, EPA Victoria, encourages everyone to do their bit as part of the state’s shared responsibility for climate action.

Chief Executive Officer Lee Miezis says the legislation behind EPA Victoria was designed to make it everyone’s responsibility to care for and protect the environment .

“Like all aspects of the environment, climate action is a shared responsibility between government, industry, business and the community,” Mr Miezis said.

“The Victorian Government has set targets to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions to 45 to 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030; to 75 to 80 per cent below 2005 levels by 2035; and to reach net zero emissions by 2045,” he said.

“EPA plays an important role in supporting government action on climate change as Victoria's environmental regulator.”

Every Victorian has a role to play, and EPA engages on climate change with individuals, businesses, industry groups, and communities as part of the statewide effort.

Within its powers as the environmental regulator for Victoria, EPA takes a preventative regulatory approach by building climate action into different aspects of its work:

• Informing the community, businesses and other duty holders of their responsibilities to reduce environmental and human health risks
• Setting human health and environmental standards including through our permissions scheme that address risks from the causes and consequences of climate change
• Advising and guiding duty holders of their obligations
• Monitoring compliance and taking enforcement action where necessary

EPA also works with duty holders, the community and industry on initiatives that encourage higher performance and improve industry practice.

There’s more information on Victoria’s path to a net-zero emissions and climate resilient future at climatechange.vic.gov.au 

There’s more on EPA’s role, and practical advice for businesses and other duty holders, on EPA’s website, at Our role in managing climate change risks | Environment Protection Authority Victoria (epa.vic.gov.au)