Local government climate change adaptation

Despite global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, climate change is inevitable, and the impacts are already becoming apparent. Adaptation measures can help minimise the negative impacts of climate change and identify potential opportunities. Local governments are key providers of assets, infrastructure and services for Tasmanians, and have an important role to play in managing the impacts of climate change and helping to build more resilient communities.

The Tasmanian Climate Change Office maintains a close working relationship with local government in Tasmania and has delivered a number of important projects, tools and resources to assist with adaptation.

Climate Resilient Councils

The Climate Resilient Councils Project is being delivered by TCCO in partnership with the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT). The Project aims to improve Tasmanian local government understanding and management of their climate-related risks when making strategic and financial decisions.

The Project comprises two phases. Seventeen of Tasmania’s 29 councils participated in Phase one. Each of these councils received a detailed project report that assesses how climate change is considered by their council, and suggests opportunities for further consideration of climate-related risk in council decision making.

Phase two will provide practical, capacity-building support to councils in relation to climate change governance. All Tasmanian councils will have the opportunity to receive support through the second phase.

ClimateAsyst

ClimateAsyst is a climate change analysis, risk assessment and communication tool that helps in the planning and management of Tasmania's built assets and infrastructure.

It includes:

• information on projected temperature and rainfall-related variables, as developed through the Climate Futures for Tasmania project;
• coastal inundation mapping; and
• a database of information on how climate variables affect assets and infrastructure.

ClimateAsyst is available on the pitt&sherry website.

Corporate and coastal adaptation planning resources

The Tasmanian Climate Change Office has developed a suite of training modules to help councils undertake or revisit their corporate and/or coastal adaptation planning. These modules provide project managers with a step-by-step approach to adaptation planning.

Local Government Area Climate Profiles

The Local Government Area Climate Profiles highlight significant local-level results from the Climate Futures for Tasmania project. The Profiles assist Tasmanian councils to understand the relevance of climate change projections in their area and inform their adaptation planning.

Planning for sea level rise and coastal hazards

In recent years, there have been significant advances in our understanding of the expected impacts of climate change on Tasmania’s coast such as erosion, storm surge and inundation. To assist communities to plan for and adapt to these impacts, the Tasmanian Government has developed planning allowances and coastal hazard maps including:

• sea level rise planning allowances
• coastal inundation maps
• coastal erosion maps

Coastal hazards

TCCO is working with coastal managers to understand and manage the impacts of coastal hazards to existing settlements.

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment's Principles for Managing Coastal Hazards guide the Tasmanian Government's approach to managing the impacts of coastal hazards on privately and publicly owned land and assets.

Regional Climate Change Initiative

The Regional Climate Change Initiative (RCCI) was set up by the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority (STCA) to help councils address the impacts of climate change. RCCI provides science-based climate change information to local government in southern Tasmania. RCCI includes representatives from the Tasmanian Government and the Local Government Association of Tasmania.

Regional Councils Climate Adaptation Project

Corporate adaptation plans for all 29 of Tasmania’s councils were developed through the Regional Councils Climate Adaptation Project (RCCAP). The plans identify and assess the climate change risk to council assets, infrastructure and services and develop adaptation options. With a clearer understanding of their exposure to climate change risks, councils can then consider them as part of broader risk management processes. The project was delivered by the Tasmanian Climate Change Office and the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority.

RCCAP also delivered regional adaptation strategies that identify common risks experienced by councils in the southern, north-west and northern regions of Tasmania. The strategies provide opportunities for collaboration and cooperation between councils and create economies of scale to more effectively address the risks and opportunities presented by climate change.

Tasmanian Coastal Adaptation Pathways (TCAP) project

The TCAP project was a collaborative initiative between local government and the Tasmanian Government to build our understanding of the impacts of coastal hazards on our communities, and how we might best adapt.

The TCAP project was delivered in three stages with nine Tasmanian councils. TCAP looks specifically at councils whose communities are vulnerable to climate-related coastal risks such as sea level rise, storm surge and erosion, and considers potential adaptation pathways in consultation with the community.

Building on the work of TCAP, the Communities and Coastal Hazards project worked with two councils to broaden the focus to include emergency management and critical infrastructure.

More information for local government is available on our Reducing local government greenhouse gas emissions page.