The Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) has released a guide for Victorian Government organisations outlining minimum requirements for managing climate-change risks.
The VMIA said it’s Climate Change Risk Management Guide outlined the responsibilities for managers, executives and Board members, including information related to legislative obligations and key steps to help organisations review risk registers and risk reports.
“There’s an international call-to-action for organisations and communities to urgently address climate change,” the VMIA said.
“Considering climate change in your risk planning might seem overwhelming, so we’re here to keep things simple,” it said.
“We’ve highlighted the minimum requirements for managing climate change risks for Victorian Government organisations.”
The VMIA said there were several Acts that required Government organisations to consider climate change in their risk management and strategic planning.
The Authority said the three key requirements covering most Victorian Public Sector Agencies were the Climate Change Act 2017, requiring Agencies to consider climate change in Government decision-making; the Victorian Government Risk Management Framework (VGRMF), requiring Agencies to consider their material risks in planning and decision-making; and the Public Administration Act 2004, requiring Boards of public entities to advise responsible Ministers and Secretaries of major risks.
It said other legal obligations may also apply, such as law related to employee occupational health and safety which implied a duty to consider climate change risks if they presented a hazard to workers, like extreme heat.
“Other Government policies might also require you to look at climate change risks,” it said.
“Examples include Victoria’s whole-of-Government climate change policies and programs at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s climate change web page and strategies for specific Government portfolios like Department of Health and Human Services’ climate change strategy and Water for Victoria.”
The VMIA said it was important for Agencies to monitor and respond to changes in legislation, regulations and standards that may impact their organisation.
The Authority’s five-page Guide can be accessed at this PS News link.
