The Victorian government has committed to cutting the state's greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, in a long-awaited targets announcement.
The plan includes $20 million to reduce emissions in the agricultural sector and $15.3m for a carbon farming program.
Government operations, including schools, hospitals, and police stations, will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025, an Australian first.
The state will work towards reductions targets of 28 to 33 per cent by 2025, and 45 to 50 per cent by 2030, to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
The state had failed to set interim targets by the self-imposed deadline of March 31, 2020, blaming the coronavirus pandemic for the delay.
Climate change minister Lily D'Ambrosio said Victoria needed another 600 megawatts of new power to meet demand, and the next Victoria Renewable Energy Target auction would be integral to delivering that.
Melbourne's trams already run on renewable energy generated by two solar farms.
In 2019, an expert panel recommended an interim target of 32-39 per cent below 2005 levels in 2025; and then 45-60 per cent below 2005 levels in 2030.
The new targets announced today are on the lower end of the recommended range.
