Tasmania's Climate Change Action Plan 2017–2021

Climate Action 21 sets the Tasmanian Government’s agenda for action on climate change through to 2021. It reflects the Tasmanian Government's commitment to addressing the critical issue of climate change and articulates how Tasmania will play its role in the global response to climate change.

Tasmania is a genuine leader in responding to climate change. Our per capita emissions are amongst the lowest of any jurisdiction in the developed world and renewable energy generation accounts for around 90 per cent of our total electricity supply.

The Tasmanian Government has committed $3 million in new funding to support the delivery of Climate Action 21. This builds on over $400 million already invested by the Tasmanian Government to support action on climate change, including a significant investment in irrigation, infrastructure and the Tasmanian Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme.

Climate Action 21 has been prepared in consultation with local government, industry, non-government organisations, research organisations and the broader Tasmanian community. The Tasmanian Government will continue to work with these groups in our efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change in a way that supports our economy and provides opportunities for growth.

Climate Action 21 includes a commitment to establish an aspirational long-term target to achieve zero net emissions for Tasmania by 2050, which aligns with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Tasmanian Government proposes to legislate for this target under the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008.

Download a copy of Climate Action 21 (PDF)

Read Climate Action 21 (Accessible HTML)

Our priorities

Climate Action 21 has 37 actions for the following six priority areas:

1. Understanding Tasmania’s future climate commits to providing up-to-date information on climate change projections and impacts, and tailoring this information to support decision making across key industry sectors.
2. Advancing our renewable energy capability supports national energy security solutions in the transition to a low carbon generation network and delivers energy efficiency programs with local government, households and businesses.
3. Reducing our transport emissions promotes the uptake of electric vehicles and other alternative forms of transport, and optimises the use of vehicles to reduce costs and emissions.
4. Growing a climate-ready economy supports businesses and agricultural producers to reduce their emissions, be prepared for the impacts of climate change, and leverage opportunities.
5. Building climate resilience enhances our capacity to withstand and recover from extreme weather events, and better understand and manage the risks of a changing climate.
6. Supporting community action establishes an aspirational emissions reduction target of zero net emissions by 2050, recognises that all Tasmanians have a role to play in tackling climate change, and assists the community to reduce emissions and energy use.

For further information please contact the Tasmanian Climate Change Office on 03 6232 7173 or by email climatechange@dpac.tas.gov.au.