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DECEMBER 2019
Welcome to the December 2019 edition of the Tasmanian Climate Change Office’s Newsletter. We’re always interested to hear about your climate change adaptation or emissions reduction projects, events and ideas, so please feel free to send us an email with the details for us to include in future editions or share on Facebook.
The end of 2019 has been busy for TCCO. We have wrapped up the Business Resource Efficiency Program, applications are now open for the Power$mart Homes program, supported Electric Bike Expos in Launceston and Hobart, co-funded business energy audits for the Power$mart Businesses program, supported a Driverless Electric Bus Demonstration and won a national award for our Electric Vehicle Working Group.
Thanks to everyone who has stopped to chat to us at an expo, conference or event this year, or shared your opinion or expertise in all things climate change. We wish you all a happy and safe festive season.
End-of-year closure
Our office will be closed from 12 noon on Tuesday 24 December and re-open on Thursday 2 January 2020.
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TCCO wins national award
TCCO is very proud to have been awarded the inaugural Kennedy Award at the IPAA ACT Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Sector Management. The national award recognises our Electric Vehicle Working Group, working in partnership to support electric vehicle uptake in Tasmania and reduce our transport emissions.
Congratulations to all the other finalists and winners, and a big thank you to all our partners:
- AEVA Australian Electric Vehicle Association
- Aurora Energy
- Department of Health
- Department of Justice
- Department of State Growth (Office of Energy Planning)
- Department of State Growth (Tourism and Hospitality Supply-side)
- Department of State Growth (Safe Mobility and Innovation)
- Department of Treasury and Finance
- Hydro Tasmania
- Local Government Association of Tasmania
- Metro Tasmania
- RACT
- Sustainable Living Tasmania
- Tasmanian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (TACC)
- TasNetworks
- University of Tasmania
Read about all our transport initiatives on our website.
Pictured below are (left to right) Dr Steven Kennedy PSM, the Hon Ben Morton MP, Jane Colton and Sophie Muller.
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Release of the Climate Action 21: Report Card 2019
It has been a busy year for our office. We have continued to implement the actions in Climate Action 21: Tasmania's Climate Change Action Plan 2017-2021 (Climate Action 21). Each year we release a report on our progress against the 37 actions in Climate Action 21. In the 2018-19 financial year we:
- supported Tasmanian businesses to review their energy use, through the Power$mart Businesses program;
- prepared to open applications for the Power$mart Homes program, supporting low income Tasmanian households to reduce their energy use;
- worked with Tasmanian businesses to reduce their waste and operating costs, through the Business Resource Efficiency Program;
- awarded over half a million dollars in ChargeSmart grant funding to support a public electric vehicle charging network;
- helped Tasmanian Government, local government and heavy vehicle fleets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, through the Smarter Fleets program;
- hosted a Tasmanian Climate Symposium and a Climate Change and Health Roundtable;
- supported local government through the Climate Resilient Councils project;
- supported research into coincident extreme weather events; and
- held statewide workshops as part of the Coastal Hazards Management for Existing Settlements and Values project.
You can read the Climate Action 21 Report Card 2019 on our website.
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Driverless Electric Bus Demonstration
On Friday 6 December 2019, Tasmania's first driverless (autonomous) electric bus demonstration was launched. The Tasmanian Government partnered with the RACT and the City of Hobart to showcase this fully electric transport option. The demonstration will help us explore the potential of this quiet and emissions-free technology in Tasmania.
Automated electric vehicles can reduce traffic congestion, improve public transport services and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more about the demonstration on the RACT website.
Pictured with the bus are TCCO staff members (left to right) Sophie Fitzgerald, Sophie Muller and Sarah Russell.
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Business Resource Efficiency Program
In early December, iconic Tasmanian small businesses, including Bridestowe Lavender, Red Brick Road Cider, and Nicholls Poultry, presented their outcomes from a 12-month program to target waste and improve resource efficiency across their supply chains. A number of innovative ideas were presented, including gin made from cider waste collected from bar spill trays, and using drone swarms to scare birds from vineyards, eliminating the need for synthetic nets.
The Business Resource Efficiency Program is helping Tasmania’s small to medium-sized businesses reduce their volume of waste sent to landfill and drive productivity gains. Eleven businesses participated in the program across a range of sectors, including agribusiness, engineering services, manufacturing, viticulture, and hospitality. Each business undertook a project to improve resource efficiency.
The Program Review Forum was held in Launceston on 6 December 2019. Participants presented their project outcomes to industry representatives and other program participants. Key learnings and case studies from the program, and resources to assist other Tasmanian businesses to improve their resource efficiency, will be published on the TCCO website in mid-2020.
The program has been delivered by Business Action Learning Tasmania (BALT) across North and North-West Tasmania, and is Action 4.3 of Climate Action 21: Tasmania's Climate Change Action Plan 2017-2021.
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Applications are now open for Power$mart Homes, a new $850,000 statewide energy efficiency program. The program is designed to help low income Tasmanian households save money on their power bills, stay warmer in winter, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The program will provide:
- a range of free energy efficiency upgrades such as LED light bulbs, a water and power saving shower head, an EcoSwitch power controller, and draught sealing; and
- free expert energy efficiency advice, including an assessment of your home's energy efficiency and a tailored power savings plan.
Information about the program, including the Guidelines and Application Form, is available on the TCCO website.
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Upcoming Events
7th Australian Emissions Reduction Summit 2020
Accelerating to zero
This annual event is presented by the Carbon Market Institute, and brings together national and international leaders to explore the risks and economic opportunities of the transition to a zero-carbon world.
Date: 19-20 May 2020
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Brunton Avenue, Richmond VIC
Information: Carbon Market Institute
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Other news
Submissions open for Climate and Carbon in Agriculture 2020
The Climate Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CRSPI) is now accepting abstracts for the Climate and Carbon in Agriculture Conference 2020. Submissions close on Monday 13 January 2020. This event will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 31 March and 1 April 2020. The event will give attendees the latest climate and carbon-related information and strategies for the agriculture sector.
Visit the Agrifutures website for all the submission details, or register your interest in the CRSPI Conference.
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