Climate Change
Projected climate change impacts range from the detrimental to the catastrophic. Some of these impacts such as longer and more severe droughts, heat waves and water supply issues are already affecting Victorians. Other more severe impacts are likely to hit over the next fifty years and profoundly affect the wellbeing of current and future generations unless urgent action is taken to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Reducing the dangers of climate change will require rapid and radical action to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and create a transition to a low carbon society.
Low income and vulnerable communities are likely to face the most severe impacts of climate change while also having less capacity to adapt. Climate change and policy responses to it therefore risk magnifying existing inequalities and present new challenges to fairness and inclusion.
Broadly, VCOSS would like to see a policy response to climate change which:
- reduces greenhouse gas emissions at the speed and to the extent necessary to prevent dangerous climate change;
- builds resilience to the impacts of climate change and related costs for low income households and the community sector; and
- ensures that low income and disadvantaged Victorians are better off in a low carbon society.
VCOSS is currently focussing on the following issues in relation to climate change:
- community resilience and ‘just transitions’;
- impacts of climate change on the community sector;
- cost of living – including electricity, water and transport costs;
- planning and transport;
- disaster preparation, response and recovery; and
- health and mental health.
Initial VCOSS work on climate change policy includes:
- developing a policy position on minimum rental standards;
- modelling of the impacts of higher energy, water and fuel prices on community sector organisations;
- undertaking research and consulting with VCOSS members and stakeholders in preparation for the Victorian Climate Change Green Paper (soon to be released), White Paper and Climate Bill processes.
Victorian Climate Change Green Paper
The Victorian Climate Change Green Paper and White Paper process is an important opportunity to have input on the direction of climate change policy in Victoria. Submissions to the Green Paper are now closed. A copy of VCOSS' submission to the Victorian Climate Change Green Paper is available here.
For futher information on VCOSS' consultation process please follow this link.
Minimum Standards
VCOSS is advocating for minimum standards to be introduced for public and private rental properties to help protect vulnerable households from the impacts of climate change and to ensure that rental properties are safe, secure and more affordable to live in through increased energy and water efficiency. A copy of VCOSS' policy position paper, A future focussed housing standard: the case for rental housing standards to help vulnerable households adapt to climate change is available here.
Greening the Sector
On 24 March 2009 VCOSS hosted the Greening the Sector forum. Follow the link for forum presentations and outcomes.
Communities in a Changing Climate
On 25 February 2009 VCOSS and the McCaughey Centre, University of Melbourne, hosted the Communities in a Changing Climate forum. Follow the link for forum details and registration.
Climate Equity Policy Group
VCOSS has established a community sector climate equity policy group to support policy development in this area. This group meets bi-monthly to share information, ideas and resources and discuss issues related to climate change policy development at the state and federal level.
Each year VCOSS makes a number of submissions in a range of policy areas including in our annual State Budget Submission. Download the climate change chapter in the VCOSS 2009-10 State Budget Submission.
For publications on this topic please click here.
If you would like to find out more about VCOSS’ work on climate change policy please contact:
Jess Fritze
jess.fritze@vcoss.org.au