Responding to a changing climate

Tasmanian Climate Change OfficeDepartment of Premier and Cabinet

Our current knowledge is not perfect, but we do know:

• Emissions are growing faster

•Climate is changing faster

•Climate will continue to change for decades,

•Risks increase the longer we delay

•Climate change provides both risks and opportunities for Tasmania

Climate change science –take home messages

What's been happening to Tasmania’s climate?

Over the past 50 years..– Average temperatures have increased by 0.8

to 1.0 degrees, in line with Australian average

– Minimum temperatures increasing more than maximum

– Rainfall has declined in most settled areas• Declines of up to 20mm per decade in the north-

west and south-east• Increases of 5 to15 mm per decade in the south-

west

Source: Bureau of Meteorology

What’s likely to happen in the future?

• Annual maximum temperatures increasing across the state, highest in the north-east

• Annual potential evaporation increasing in all areas except west coast and highlands where small decreases are predicted

• Substantial regional variations in rainfall in both quantity and distribution. Currently being modelledby Climate Futures for Tasmania.

Source: CSIRO/Hydro Tasmania/Tasmanian Partnership for Advanced Computing

In response...

Tasmania has– Established the Tasmanian

Climate Change Office early 2008

– Enacted the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008

– Released the Tasmanian Framework for Action

Tasmanian Framework for Action

• Flexible approach to take into account national and international developments and new science

• Sets out objectives, key principles and priority areas for action

• Includes Tasmania’s Action Plan – actions that can be taken immediately

• Recognises the need for a responsive document.

Framework objectives

1. To reduce our emissions to at least 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050

2. To adapt to the changes in our climate that are occurring now and will continue to occur

3. To capture new social, economic and environmental opportunities

4. To demonstrate national and international leadership and contribute to global climate solutions

Priority areas for action1. Government leadership2. Consolidating Tasmania’s position as the

renewable energy State3. Planning for future change (adaptation)4. Protecting Tasmania’s natural carbon stores5. Improving Tasmania’s transport system6. Innovations in agriculture7. Being energy smart8. Building resilient and adaptive communities

Tasmanian Wedges ProjectTons of CO2-e emitted per year

Current e

missions p

athway – base case

Historical emissions

01950 2000 2050 2100

Emission reduction ‘wedges’

Emission reduction target

Government leadership

• Emissions Inventory Project - comprehensive audit of Government emissions to determine carbon footprint

• Greenhouse standards for vehicle fleet• Procurement policy revised• Introduce Climate Change Impact Statements so that

climate change will be factored into decision making across Government

• Agency emission reduction plans in place • Introducing minimum energy efficiency ratings for

Government buildings

The renewable energy State

• Aspire to generating 100 percent of our electricity from renewable resources and to become a net exporter of renewable and low carbon electricity.

• Energy efficiency measures to reduce our energy needs

• Development of our renewable energy industry to ensure continued security, efficiency and affordability of Tasmanian electricity supplies

• Showcase for tomorrow’s renewable energy technologies

Improving Tasmania’s transport system

Current Actions• Govt review of urban transport• Exploring opportunities to trial

innovative transport alternatives and for encouraging walking and cycling

• Tasmania can be a leader in promoting the new generation of transport vehicles.

Being energy smart

• Greater energy efficiency in Tasmania means more clean energy to export to the mainland

• It will also ease the impact of rising electricity prices on households and businesses

Current Actions• Low Income Housing Project• Partnership with SLT – energy audits,

advisory services, presentations

Resilient and adaptive communities

• Challenges of climate change will place increasing pressure on individuals, businesses and communities to adjust the ways we live and work

Current Actions• Climate Change Community Grants Program• Partnership agreement and funding for

Sustainable Living Tasmania• Local Government partnership on climate change• Working with SME’s to build understanding and

action

Community Grants• Round one funding for the ClimateConnect

community grants program has been finalised– $400,000 has been allocated (up to $50,000 each)– Ten successful projects to be funded– Currently being announced by the Minister– Represent a broad spread of projects– agriculture,

transport, aged care facilities, the arts and household energy efficiency

• Review and recut program ready for 09/10 round

Community Grants 09/10

• Program objectives – are they the right ones?

• Are the eligible applicants, projects and activities appropriate?

• Is there a need for a small grants ($5k) program to undertake engagement activities? and if so what sort of activities could be funded??

Council meets Community

• Public event prior to each meeting of Climate Action Council

• Information and networking• December 3rd – community focus in

Launceston• What would you like – topic, format

etc