Climate change will alter global and local climates. In Victoria, this means a warmer and drier future. This will come with an increasing likelihood of more extreme events such as heatwaves, bushfires and storms.

As the state's environmental regulator, EPA is an advocate for effective action. We’ll implement the Victorian Government's direction on climate change.

About climate change

Anthropogenic (caused by humans) climate change is a major global environmental issue.

The Earth’s climate has changed over the last century. Warming of the climate system is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level.

Increases in average temperatures have been seen around the globe and there is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed in the last 50 years is due to human activities.

Climate change will alter global and local climates. In Victoria, this means a warmer and drier future, with an increasing likelihood of more extreme events such as heatwaves, bushfires and storms.

These events often create significant pollution and waste issues that can also impact on the health of communities.

All Victorians can play an important part in contributing to this action, which will help our environment and our economy.

EPA's role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions

The Victorian Government has legislated a long-term target of net zero emissions by 2050, and through its Climate Change Strategy, has set interim targets for 2025 and 2030. Achieving these targets is a shared responsibility across all sectors of the economy - governments, industry and the community.

EPA expects effective action and is committed to playing its part in implementing the Victorian Government’s direction on climate change. While EPA doesn’t regulate all the sources that contribute to climate change, we have a responsibility to consider the effects in our regulatory decision making and must act to ensure the harm from industrial emissions including greenhouse gases is eliminated or minimised as far as reasonably practicable.

Climate change projections for Victoria

Information on potential climate change impacts to Victoria can be found in Protecting our future environment in a changing climate (publication 1293). This contains information on predicted changes to the Victorian climate (at the time of publication) and potential impacts arising from future changes to the climate. For more up-to-date climate change projection information, refer to the Victorian Government's Climate Ready Fact Sheets and Regional Data Sheets (DELWP). 

EPA's consideration of climate change

For more information on how EPA considers climate change in its decision making:

Reviewed 23 January 2023