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By MICHELLE SLATER

VICTORIA’S electricity-generation sector reduced its emissions by 2.2 million tonnes in 2020, according to the latest figures. The 2020 Victorian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report shows that the state’s emissions plunged almost six per cent between 2019 and 2020, with the largest reduction found in the electricity sector. This was followed by the transport sector with a decrease of 1.9 million tonnes of emissions. All up, Victoria had exceeded its emissions reductions targets by almost double, to 30 per cent of 2005 levels, exceeding targets of 15 to 20 per cent. The decrease was because of investments in renewables, which contributed to a quarter of Victoria’s electricity consumption between 2019 and 2020. Renewables also contributed to 34 per cent of the state’s electricity generation in the 2021/22 financial year. In 2020, Victoria had the third-lowest emissions of any state or territory across the nation, after Tasmania and the ACT. Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the state was “well on the way” to reaching its targets of reducing emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. “Our nation-leading investment in renewable energy has helped us smash our 2020 emissions target,” Ms D’Ambrosio said. “It’s only the Labor government that has a track record of delivering on climate change - slashing emissions while driving down the cost of living for Victorian families.” Victoria was one of the first jurisdictions in the world to legislate net-zero emissions by 2050, and targets 50-per-cent emissions reduction by 2030. Environment Victoria policy and advocacy manager Bronya Lipski congratulated the state government for beating its targets. “This is a great start towards decarbonising our economy. This result demonstrates what is possible when a state government shows real climate leadership,” Ms Lipsky said. “With the state election less than two months away, we now urge all political parties and candidates to step up to the challenge of reaching net zero emissions by 2035.”

Environment job for all: EPA

EPA inspections have targeted industrial precincts in the Latrobe Valley as part of a statewide blitz focusing on potential pollution escaping into stormwater drains and out to waterways. Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) Gippsland Region officers inspected an industrial precinct in Traralgon recently. The EPA is particularly concerned about the precinct because its stormwater drain system is directly connected to local waterways that have economic, social, environmental and cultural importance. The aim of the blitz, in which 10 businesses were inspected, was to highlight the role businesses are expected to play in protecting the environment, and in particular, local waterways in catchment areas, including Loy Yang Creek. “We targeted industry sectors that included automotive, timber treaters, food related (processor/storage) and painters and a variety of other general industrial activities,” Gippsland Regional manager Jessica Bandiera said. “In all we have issued three notices and 16 pieces of compliance advice addressing issues such as stormwater contamination, washwater and sediment controls and bunding. “We are particularly concerned that controls are not adequate or are poorly maintained. “We have seen too often the harm that can be done to the environment through uncontrolled releases into the environment.” Ms Bandiera said the general environmental duties, or GED requirements, of the Environmental Protection Act 2017 made it clear that it was everyone’s job to act to protect the environment. “The EPA is working to generate a greater understanding of that responsibility. EPA wants to help businesses understand that they must act to improve their onsite controls to prevent spills and pollution entering the environment,” she said. “Where EPA identifies poor controls to prevent pollution, they can expect us to use our powers to enforce compliance.”