Translating global emission reduction goals into built environment policy instruments: an ambitious yet inadequate policy portfolio for Victoria, Australia

Anna Hurlimann, Geoffrey R. Browne, Alan March, Sareh Moosavi and Judy Bush

Climate Policy, 2025, vol. 25, issue 9, 1428-1441

Abstract: This paper addresses the necessity to translate global emissions reduction goals into the complex policy portfolios governing built environments. Currently, global actions are not on track to achieve the Paris Agreement goal to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The built environment is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and further action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions attributable to it. This paper develops an assessment mechanism to scrutinize the adequacy of built environment policy instruments’ emission reduction targets (mitigation targets) to address global emission reduction goals, and global climate justice. The mechanism is applied to 96 policy instruments in the built environment policy portfolio for the state of Victoria, and the City of Melbourne, Australia, and their broader federal and international contexts. The research finds that for some policy instruments, there is ambition that is consistent with global mitigation goals (the Paris Agreement). However, there is inadequate penetration of emission reduction targets across the broader instrument mix in the built environment policy portfolio. Additionally, the policy portfolio does not address international climate justice (i.e. allocate the remaining carbon budget in accordance with historical responsibility). These gaps risk not achieving global emissions reduction goals for the built environment. The assessment mechanism and method of policy analysis can be used in other jurisdictions to assess and reform existing policy instruments and portfolios, and to guide the development of new policy instruments, in order to facilitate necessary emissions reduction.There is inadequate coverage of greenhouse gas emission reduction targets across the policy portfolio.At the time of the review, an emission reduction target was absent in key policy instruments such as urban planning legislation and construction sector regulation.Holistic translation of emission reduction targets across a policy portfolio is important for achieving global goals.Establishment of a body responsible for oversight of the whole portfolio would be beneficial.The assessment mechanism and method could be used to assess the adequacy of other built environment policy portfolios, and to design new policy instrument and policy portfolios.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2025.2459319

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