Climate action targets

Victoria’s climate action targets

Victoria has set world-leading targets to cut the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2045.

The Government confirmed Victoria’s newest target, for 2035, in May 2023.

Driving real climate action

Victoria's 2035 Emissions Reduction Target (PDF, 3.4 MB): Victoria’s new 2035 target and key emissions reduction policies.

Victoria's 2035 Emissions Reduction Target (DOCX, 463.8 KB): Victoria’s new 2035 target and key emissions reduction policies - accessible version.

Victoria’s climate action targets

Victoria was one of the first jurisdictions in the world to put a net-zero emissions target in law. The Government brought forward the commitment to achieve net-zero from 2050 to 2045.

Victoria beat its first target - to reduce emissions 15-20% below 2005 levels by 2020 – with a cut of almost 30%.

Building on this success, the Victorian Government has set targets that provide a clear path to net-zero emissions:

• 28-33% by 2025
• 45-50% by 2030
• 75-80% by 2035.

Victoria’s targets are all reductions below 2005 emissions levels.

Note: Victoria’s 2040 target will be set by 2028.

Benefits from climate action

Meeting Victoria’s targets will create new jobs, including in clean energy, land restoration, zero-emissions transport, and the circular economy.

It will also create significant benefits for the community and the environment including cleaner air, lower energy bills, and greater biodiversity.

Meeting Victoria’s climate action targets will benefit the economy. Victoria’s economy will be $63 billion bigger from now to 2070 with our targets and strong global climate action. Strong targets will help attract part of the estimated $US130 trillion of global private finance available for the transition to net zero emissions. The targets will also help Victoria stay competitive as our key trading partners transition to net zero emissions.

Meeting Victoria’s targets

Victoria’s targets are ambitious but achievable, building on trends and actions already underway. Victoria’s emissions have been falling since 2010. We beat the 2020 target and by 2021, Victoria’s emissions had fallen by 32% below 2005 levels.

Key actions the Victorian Government is already taking to cut emissions include:

• increasing the 2030 Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) to 65% and setting a VRET new target of 95% renewable electricity generation by 2035
• putting electricity back in the hands of Victorians by bringing back the State Electricity Commission (SEC)
• setting the biggest energy storage targets in Australia
• setting a target for 50% of new light vehicle sales to be zero emissions vehicles – powered by electricity, hydrogen and other clean new fuels – by 2030
• working towards the world’s first carbon-neutral pasture-based dairy farm.

The Victorian Government will continue to work with communities and businesses to build on these actions and meet the state’s climate action targets. Victoria’s Climate Change Act 2017 sets a framework to keep developing new policies to meet the targets, called sector pledges. The next set of pledges, for 2026-2030, are due in 2025.

Victoria’s climate action targets can be met with known technologies and solutions – and there is more than one way to get there. By 2035, all sectors of Victoria’s economy will be on their way to net zero emissions.

Illustrative pathway and key changes from today to Victoria’s 2035 target

Want to know more?

Determination of Victoria’s 2035 target was informed by the following:

Victoria’s 2035 Emissions Reduction Target: Supporting Analysis (PDF, 938.9 KB): a summary of the modelling exercises informing Victoria’s 2035 emissions reduction target

Victoria’s 2035 Emissions Reduction Target: Supporting Analysis (DOCX, 552.1 KB): a summary of the modelling exercises informing Victoria’s 2035 emissions reduction target - accessible version

Victoria’s 2035 climate action target (PDF, 5.5 MB): driving growth and prosperity: advice from the independent expert panel on Victoria’s 2035 target

Victorian emissions budgets (PDF, 1.5 MB): independent analysis related to Victoria’s contribution to global efforts to minimise global temperature rise

Victoria’s Climate Science Report 2019 (PDF, 6.7 MB): understanding the current and potential future impacts of climate change on Victoria

Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions (PDF, 2.7 MB): understanding Victoria’s contribution to climate change

Determination of the interim greenhouse gas emissions reduction target—2035 (PDF, 308.8 KB): formal determination under the Climate Change Act 2017

Supporting information

• Terms of reference (DOCX, 33.2 KB)
• Public consultation on interim targets for 2025 and 2030

• Advice on applying Climate Change Authority emissions targets to Victoria (PDF, 515.4 KB)
• Advice on applying Climate Change Authority emissions targets to Victoria ACCESSIBLE VERSION (DOCX, 132.6 KB)

• Economic impacts of timing of emissions abatement (PDF, 993.4 KB)
• Economic impacts of timing of emissions abatement ACCESSIBLE VERSION (DOCX, 521.5 KB)

• Greenhouse gas emissions budgets for Victoria (PDF, 2.5 MB)
• Greenhouse gas emissions budgets for Victoria ACCESSIBLE VERSION (DOCX, 2.3 MB)

• Deriving a 1.5 °C emissions budget for Victoria (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• Deriving a 1.5 °C emissions budget for Victoria ACCESSIBLE VERSION (DOCX, 541.8 KB)

• Health costs of air pollution in Victoria (PDF, 385.5 KB)
• Health costs of air pollution in Victoria ACCESSIBLE VERSION (PDF, 1.4 MB)