As an independent statutory authority under the Environment Protection Act 2017, our role is to prevent and reduce harm from pollution and waste. This includes regulating the causes and consequences of climate change.
Climate change is a global challenge, bringing rising temperatures and more extreme weather events. In Victoria, this means a warmer and drier future with more frequent and intense heatwaves, bushfires and storms. These events often create significant pollution and waste issues that can impact the health of communities.
The Victorian Government is working towards net zero emissions by 2045. Through its Climate Change Strategy, it has set interim targets for 2025, 2030 and 2035. Achieving these targets is a shared responsibility across sectors – that means governments, industry and the community.
We expect effective action. We're committed to playing our part in implementing the Victorian Government’s direction on climate change. We do not regulate all the sources that contribute to climate change. But we do have a responsibility to consider the effects in our regulatory decision-making. We must act to make sure the harm from industrial emissions, including greenhouse gases, is eliminated or minimised as far as reasonably practicable.
How we regulate climate change
We have a clear role under legislation to consider climate change in our regulatory decision-making. The Environment Protection Act 2017 defines greenhouse gas substances as a waste. It also includes the general environmental duty. This duty requires all Victorians to eliminate or reduce the risks to human health and the environment from their activities. The general environmental duty applies to both the causes and consequences of climate change.
In our regulatory work, we prioritise our effort where we can have the biggest impact, using science, intelligence and evidence.
Our regulatory approach includes:
- supporting business, industry and the community to understand what they need to do and how to reduce risks to the environment and human health from climate change
- monitoring the quality of air and water to help us understand how climate change affects our environment
- sharing information and giving advice during emergency events such as floods and bushfires
- developing regulations and standards to reduce waste and encourage resource recovery
- collaborating with industry to create resources to help tackle climate change issues
- monitoring businesses and their activities to check compliance
- taking action against anyone who does not meet their environmental responsibilities
- working with individuals and businesses to encourage ideas to improve how they manage environmental risk.
We have developed a Statement of Regulatory Intent on Climate Change. This statement is our regulatory strategy on climate action over 2025 to 2027. It focuses our efforts in this space, signposting our increased attention and giving clarity to business of our expectations.
We regularly review how we regulate climate change. We do this to make sure we’re following government policy and meeting community expectations. These reviews help us improve what we do now and in the future, including with compliance and enforcement.
We play an essential role in implementing the Victorian Government's direction on climate change. Read more in our Strategic plan.
Climate change and our permissions
Under the Climate Action Act 2017, (previously the Climate Change Act 2017), we have obligations to consider the contribution of emissions and the potential impacts of climate change when making decisions on licences and permits.
This does not change our existing powers and obligations under the Environment Protection Act 2017. However, we must consider other matters identified in Schedule 1 of the Climate Action Act 2017 when making the decisions. To learn more, visit Climate change requirements for permissions.
Under the Climate Action Act 2017, the Minister for Environment can issue guidelines for a person making a decision or taking an action identified in Schedule 1. This applies to us as a decision-maker. The guidelines can cover the scope and application of the factors we need to consider when making decisions.
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