EPA Victoria seeking feedback on draft greenhouse gas emissions guidelines

Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria has published draft guidelines for managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is seeking public consultation.

Methods of reducing refrigerant emissions discussed in the document have been welcomed by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) as signalling a new way for business under Victoria’s ‘general environment duty’ that, under the Environment Protection Act 2017, requires people conducting activities that pose pollution or waste risks to the community or the environment to take steps to minimise them.

ARC chief executive Glenn Evans described the draft guidelines as demonstrating “a growing emphasis on the role we all play in the protection of our environment and broader community health from greenhouse gas emissions”.

“More and more, the environment has become the driver and state and federal governments implement operating guidelines that make it necessary for businesses to evolve.”

VASA members are encouraged to read and respond to the draft guidelines at: https://engage.vic.gov.au/new-draft-guideline-managing-greenhouse-gas-emissions.

The submission deadline is 8 February, which will be followed by the release of a government engagement summary in August and subsequent publication of the final guidelines.