THE Baillieu government has dropped an election commitment to bring in limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new coal-fired power plants.

The decision by Energy Minister Michael O'Brien came just hours after the government announced it would shed the state's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by the end of the decade.

The proposed coal power standards would have capped emissions from new coal-fired power stations. Credit:Pat Scala

It also came as the state government released a report on future impacts of climate change in Victoria, finding average temperatures could increase by 1 to 4.2 degrees by 2070 relative to 1990.

The new coal power standards - proposed by the previous Labor government and supported by the Coalition - would have capped emissions from new coal-fired power plants at 0.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide for every megawatt hour of electricity generated. They would also have required new plants to be ready to install clean coal technology if it became viable.