“Much of the debate on national and global action on climate change centres on the negative impact human beings have had on the climate, “ Mr Brumby said, “but our Government wants to shift the focus onto the positive impact human beings can have on our climate.

Mr Brumby said Climate Communities would be based on the successful LandCare initiative – a community driven process supported by government.

“While some may argue that the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme makes individual action irrelevant, our Government firmly believes that individual and local action on climate change is now more important than ever before,” he said.

Climate Communities will allow individuals and groups to apply for substantial grants for local projects, which can involve councils, businesses, schools and service groups.

Mr Brumby said Climate Communities would fund projects of various sizes with two grant rounds each year. Grants of up to $50,000 will be available.

The projects will need to meet one or more of the key objectives: the reductions to greenhouse gas in addition to the CPRS cap; programs that are implemented within the CPRS cap; and, programs that involve trialling new ideas for sustainable living in the energy, waste and transport sectors and promoting their adoption in other communities.

The first round of applications will be opened next year.

Further information will be available from Sustainability Victoria and grants will be supplied through Sustainability Victoria’s Sustainability Fund.