Department of Premier and Cabinet - Tasmanian Positive: Our state's sustainability strategy

Tasmanian Positive: Our state's sustainability strategy

A close-up of a woman looking to other people in the group. The words: "A sustainable Tasmania takes all of us" in the middle of the image.

Youth conversation. Credit: Moon Cheese Studio

Sustainability is about choices. The choices we make today impact our local communities, our state, and the world around us. They are the foundation of our wellbeing and the wellbeing of future generations.

In many ways, Tasmania is where the world wants to be. We are self-sufficient in renewable electricity and our targets are the most ambitious in the world. We maintain one of the largest World Heritage Areas in the Southern Hemisphere. Around half of our land area is protected in parks and reserves.

Yet we have so much more to do, to reduce our emissions and to lead in other areas of sustainability. This has economic, social, and environmental benefits. And it’s the core of Tasmanian culture – who we are.

We also recognise social equity as a key pillar of sustainability, the need to make sure nobody is left behind as we transition to a sustainable future, and to develop the skills and education to prepare Tasmanians for the jobs of the future.

Momentum is building around the world for ideas like sustainability, carbon neutral, climate positive, and nature positive. In our conversations, there is something unique, something special about our connection to our environment, our community, and our prosperity.

Our approach to sustainability is being Tasmanian Positive.

We're putting 'us' in sustainability because a sustainable Tasmania takes all of us.

The Tasmanian Government is developing a sustainability strategy for Tasmania, led by the Department of Premier and Cabinet in concert with all government agencies, businesses and authorities. No one can do this alone, and it is not something any government or agency can impose. It’s a strategy we share, as it will encompass the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability.

Many positive initiatives are already happening across government and Tasmania’s business and community sectors. The purpose of a sustainability strategy is not to duplicate effort or waste resources, but to bring together these initiatives and work together on new initiatives to enhance the social, economic, and environmental wellbeing of current and future generations.

This strategy is about coordinating, celebrating, and taking advantage of what we are already doing. It is about being honest about how we can do better, for what we all care deeply about: our air and land and water, our communities, and each other. All Tasmanian households, businesses, investors, and visitors to Tasmania can work together on common goals and objectives. To support this, we invite all Tasmanians to help build our shared sustainability strategy, to own it, and to be inspired to act by our aspirations for the future.

Let’s be Tasmanian Positive.

Submissions closed

The have your say on the development of the draft sustainability strategy closed on 20 October 2023.

There may be further opportunities to contribute to the sustainability strategy as the project progresses.

Contact policy@dpac.tas.gov.au for information on the development of the draft sustainability strategy or the consultation process.

Submissions received

Document library

Short Consultation Paper (PDF 1.7MB)

Discussion Paper (PDF 3.5MB)

Stakeholder consultation report for a Tasmanian sustainability vision and strategy (PDF 3.4MB)

The sustainability strategy project began with six focus groups between 11-14 April 2022 in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.
KPMG Hobart was engaged to design, facilitate and report on the outcomes of the focus groups.
The workshops were attended by more than 200 representatives from all Tasmanian Government agencies, government businesses, the Local Government Association of Tasmania, and industry and community sector peak bodies.

A review of sustainability strategies: Options for Tasmania (Background Research Paper No. 1) (PDF 3.0MB) and Sustainability opportunities for Tasmania (Background Research Paper No. 2) (PDF 4.1MB)

The Tasmanian Policy Exchange at the University of Tasmania was engaged in 2022 to undertake two research papers to inform the development of the sustainability strategy, including:
- a review of approaches to sustainability strategies in other jurisdictions (nationally and internationally)
- to identify sustainability opportunities for Tasmania.

Sustainability Consultation Report: Analysis to inform Tasmania’s Sustainability Strategy (PDF 8.5MB)

The Institute for Social Change at the University of Tasmania was engaged to develop a community-wide survey on wellbeing and sustainability, inviting all Tasmanians to answer two questions:
1. What does wellbeing mean to you?
2. What does an ideal Tasmania look like for future generations?
The survey was launched on 5 June 2023 and 1,558 people responded to the sustainability question.
On 28 August 2023, a broad community consultation process began with the launch of a consultation website, “Tasmanian Positive – our state’s sustainability strategy”, and the release of a short consultation paper and a longer discussion paper, seeking input from the Tasmanian community for the development of a sustainability vision and goals for Tasmania.
176 responses to discussion paper questions were received from 99 individuals, and a further 38 written submissions were received.
The Sustainability Consultation Report provides analysis of responses to both the survey and discussion paper consultations.

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Tasmanian Positive: Our state's sustainability strategy

Submissions closed

Submissions received

Document library