CENTRAL Victorian climate advocates have called on the state government to consider stronger short-term emission reduction targets to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees.
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The state government will announce interim targets for emission reduction, for 2025 and 2030, by March 31.
The targets are based on a report by a panel of independent experts and are designed to help the state reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The report recommends the government should adopt interim carbon emissions targets of 32-39 per cent below 2005 levels for 2025, and 45-60 per cent by 2030.
But further on the report states emissions would have to sit below these recommendations to meet 1.5 degree global targets.
Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance executive officer Rob Law said cuts of 44 per cent by 2025 and 65 per cent by 2030 were necessary to stay in line with Paris goals to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees celsius.
The report states emissions would have to sit at 67 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 to keep pace with a temperature increase of 1.5 degrees - a 43 per cent reduction in emissions by 2025.
Mr Law said the short-term targets were more important than long, because it did not pass the problem on to a later government do to the work.
He said the alliance would like the government to commit to these stronger figures.
"Anything less is a missed opportunity by the state to be a leader in climate action," he said.
"It's cheaper to do more now than it is to delay. If we're able to start the transition earlier then we can not need to drastically reduce emissions in the last five years or so."
Mr Law said it would be courageous to announce strong targets, but Victoria could send a strong signal to other jurisdictions.
He said it would also create a new wave of economic activity, sending a signal to the business community to follow suit.
Bendigo Sustainability Group president Trevor Smith said he hoped the government followed scientific recommendations, rather than making targets what they could get away with politically.
Mr Smith called for the same targets as the CVGA.
A Victorian government spokesperson said it would have more to say on emission reduction targets in due course.
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