Every Policy Counts: Building climate action into government decision by decision

A/Prof Anita Foerster and Dr Alice Bleby, 2026

Purpose

Climate change touches every corner of government, so it can never be solved as a side issue. Anita Foerster and Alice Bleby set out to understand how Victoria's Climate Change Act 2017 can be used to bring climate thinking into the heart of everyday government decisions, policies and programs.

Practice

Working closely with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, the team spoke directly with public servants across government through interviews, focus groups, surveys and workshops. Together, they mapped what mainstreaming looks like in practice, and identified what helps it happen and what gets in the way.

Output

The research produced clear, practical recommendations across three fronts: stronger rules and obligations in legislation and policy; stronger institutions, through climate leadership roles and communities of practice; and stronger capability, through better information, resources and decision-support tools. These recommendations were shared directly with government through briefings, reports and academic articles.

Outcome and impact

Government programs are now applying these recommendations to implement the Climate Change Act's mainstreaming provisions, embedding climate considerations more deeply across Victorian Government activity. Public servants report a clearer understanding of their legal duties – real evidence that research can move from the page into everyday practice.