VCOSS

Climate change

Victoria is on the frontline of climate change, facing a future with water scarcity, longer and more severe droughts, heatwaves and greater risks of bushfire and floods. The longer we delay action on climate change the more severe climate impacts on our communities will be and the higher the cost of adaptation.

The impacts and the costs are already, and will continue to be, unevenly distributed across Victoria. Low income earners and disadvantaged communities are likely to be affected first and worst.

VCOSS campaigns for:

• a fair carbon price that drives down emissions, and helps Victorians adapt to climate change while not disproportionately impacting on low income households
• retrofitting Victoria’s housing stock to reduce carbon emissions and to lower energy bills for low income households
• minimum energy and water efficiency standards for rental properties
• better and more accessible pubic transport

Contact:

Jess Fritze at jess.fritze@vcoss.org.au

For more information:

• Media Releases

  12 October 2011 Clean Energy Future bill an historic opportunity Australia’s peak welfare and community sector bodies have welcomed the passage of the Clean Energy Future bill through the House of Representatives in Federal Parliament today as an historic opportunity to build a low-carbon future for all Australians. 11 July 2011 Carbon price scheme details a welcome first step VCOSS believes the carbon price scheme announced yesterday by the Federal Government is an essential first step in tackling climate change for all Victorians, especially those living on a low incomes or experiencing disadvantage. 7 July 2011 Victorians deserve more than half the story on carbon price Publishing economic ‘modelling’ of the impact of a carbon price on Victorians without including compensation is only telling half the story says the Victorian Council of Social Service. more...

• Reports

  Climate change and drought policy in Victoria: context and recommendations for VCOSS’ policy position Climate change and drought have emerged as critical policy issues over the last year, with the social justice and equity implications gaining some prominence. VCOSS undertook a scoping project between May–September 2007 to identify: the current climate change and drought policy context; impacts of climate change, drought and associated policy responses for low income and disadvantaged Victorians; and recommendations for VCOSS future work in these areas. The project involved consultation with stakeholders in government, community and environment sectors as well as a review of current research and policy documents. An internal VCOSS strategic position paper was presented to the VCOSS board in October 2007. This discussion paper summarises the research undertaken as part of this scoping project. Author: VCOSS Date: 2008 more...

• Submissions

  Our Cities Discussion Paper Submission A national strategy for the future of Australian cities Author: Llewellyn Reynders, Sarah Toohey, Jess Fritze (VCOSS) Date: March 2011 Submission to: Department of Infrastructure and Transport, Australian Government Victorian Climate Change White Paper and Climate Change Bill Author: VCOSS Date: August 2010 Prime Minister’s Taskgroup on Energy Efficiency Author: VCOSS Date: May 2010 more...