Victoria's Opposition Leader has called on his federal Liberal Party colleagues to set "sensible" carbon emission reduction targets beyond 2030 to address climate change and give businesses long-term certainty.

Key points: Michael O'Brien says longer-term plans are needed to look after the next generation

Michael O'Brien says longer-term plans are needed to look after the next generation His comments came after Malcolm Turnbull attacked Scott Morrison's climate policies

His comments came after Malcolm Turnbull attacked Scott Morrison's climate policies Victoria has a target of net zero emissions by 2050

Michael O'Brien said Victorians wanted more action on climate change, and called for a national agreement on emission reduction targets.

"The Victorian Liberal Party are supportive of long-term emission reduction plans because that's going to be our contribution to tackling climate change and it also minimises the cost to disadvantaged sections of the community," he said.

"I'd like to see a discussion about what federal targets we can have beyond 2030.

"But until we get to that point I think it's appropriate for states such as Victoria … to have our own longer-term plans and strategies in the absence of an agreed national position."

Mr O'Brien said the Federal Government had to balance economic and environmental priorities, but warned it had a responsibility to act on both.

"In my mind, the same reason why the Liberal Party says we need to make sure we don't pass on unsustainable debt to our kids is the same reason it says we don't want to pass on an unsustainable environment to our kids," he said.

"We've got to look after the next generation, whether that's on the economy or the environment."

Mr O'Brien's comments came after former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull told the BBC the Federal Government should do more to tackle climate change, accusing right-wing think-tanks and Rupert Murdoch's media empire of fuelling "climate denialism".

While Mr O'Brien said the Federal Government had "some good initiatives", such as Snowy Hydro 2.0, he warned short-term climate policies would lead "to huge dislocations and a lot of people get hurt".

"We're already in the 2020s now, 2030 will be on us sooner than people think," he said.

"It is appropriate at a national level that we look beyond 2030 so that the community, so that the business sector, can all have time to plan.

"When it comes to tackling climate change, we need to make sure that the costs of doing that don't fall unfairly on those sections of the community who can least afford to pay."

Australia's 2030 target and 'carryover credits'

Under the 2016 Paris Agreement, Australia promised to reduce its emissions by 26 to 28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.

A recent report from the UN environment program said Australia would not reach the target if not for its use of controversial "carryover" credits from reductions made in the past.

"With this method, the Australian Government projects that the country will overachieve its 2020 pledge. However, if this 'carryforward' approach is not taken, Australia will not achieve its 2020 pledge," the report said.

Asked recently whether the Government would increase its target, Mr Morrison said the Government had already "set the target" and would be sticking with its election policies.

He suggested Australia could reach a position "where we don't need" the credits, but did not rule out their use.

Some of Australia's biggest businesses are already working to cut their carbon emissions, including software company Atlassian, which has committed to net zero emissions by 2050.

Andrews talks up Victoria's targets

Victoria's Labor Government has set an ambitious target for the state to have net zero emissions by 2050.

Premier Daniel Andrews said he would not take advice from the Opposition Leader on how to reduce emissions in Victoria.

"We have legislated targets and the most aggressive renewable energy agenda in the nation," he said.

"I don't want to be disrespectful to the leader of the Opposition, but he is not relevant to my plans, whether it be about cutting emissions or anything else.

"We don't sit there complaining or providing advice to other governments. We get on and govern."