Draft agriculture Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan

Consultation questions

1. What future opportunities (outlined in this draft Plan) do you think will have the most impact?
2. Are there any priorities or future opportunities missing from this draft Plan?
3. How can we collaborate to reduce emissions and build resilience in the agriculture sector?

Key dates

Draft Plan released:                  6 September 2024

Written submissions close:      11 October 2024

How to have your say

You can make a submission by writing to us, answering the above consultation questions. You may submit your response online, or by email or post.

For more information about this work, or making a submission, please contact the Climate Change Office.

Online: www.recfit.tas.gov.au/consultation

Email: climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au

Post: Climate Change Office, Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania,  Department of State Growth,  GPO Box 536, HOBART TAS 7001

Phone: 03 6166 4466

If you are making a written submission, please include the name and contact details of the person or organisation making the submission. All submissions are welcome and valued.

Publication

Submissions will be published on the Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT) website (www.recfit.tas.gov.au). Your name or the name of the organisation making the submission will be made public. Personal contact details will not be published. Please tell us if you want to keep your submission private. Defamatory or offensive material will not be published

The Tasmanian Government will also seek to maximise the opportunities for Tasmania through relevant Australian Government initiatives, including the development of national sectoral decarbonisation plans.

[1] Tasmania’s latest reported greenhouse gas emissions were released in April 2024 as part of the Australian Government’s National Greenhouse Accounts 2021 and State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2022. The Australian Government reporting framework is consistent with UNFCCC and Paris Agreement reporting rules. National inventory reporting runs two years behind the current date, and represents the most recent official data in Australia on annual emissions.

[2] Point Advisory and Indufor 2021, 2021 Update of Tasmania’s Emissions Pathway Review – technical report (prepared for the Tasmanian Climate Change Office) www.recfit.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/492093/Tasmanian_Emissions_Pathway_Review_-_Technical_Report.pdf

[3] IPCC 2023, Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report - Summary for Policymakers, www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/

Greenhouse gas emissions

Agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries are major contributors to the Tasmanian economy and communities. Farmers are important land managers, and are responsible for significant carbon stores in soils and vegetation. However, the emissions from livestock, manure management and the application of soil conditioners and fertilisers make agriculture Tasmania’s largest emitting sector, currently making up one third of our total emissions, excluding the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector.

There are also many agriculture-related emissions accounted for in other sectors, including those related to transport, energy use, waste management, production of finfish and crustaceans, and land clearing.

Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) 2024, State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2022

Climate change impacts

There is an increasing expectation, in domestic markets and from global trading partners, for producers to report on and take steps to reduce emissions. Trading partners such as the European Union are introducing carbon import tariffs, and along supply chains, food manufacturers and retailers are setting emissions reduction and other sustainability-related targets. Among consumers, the demand for food that is produced in environmentally and socially responsible ways is growing, and sustainably certified products can attract premium prices. These changes bring challenges and risks for Tasmania’s agriculture sector, but also opportunities to benefit from Tasmania’s clean, green brand, increase productivity, reduce costs and explore new revenue streams.

Farmers on the Bass Strait Islands and mainland Tasmania are being impacted by unseasonably dry and drought conditions in 2024. Under a changing climate, events such as these are projected to become more frequent and intense. Changing rainfall patterns, as well as increased risk of bushfires, storms and floods, and rising land and water temperature, present a major risk to both land-based and marine primary production. Risks include food and water shortages for animals and other farm uses, changes in the abundance and distribution of fish stocks, increased prices of agricultural inputs, and damage to land, crops and infrastructure. Climate change will also impact our strong biosecurity, which historically we have benefited from as an island state.

These are significant risks for farmers but also for Tasmania as a whole, and can lead to reduced food production, loss of employment, and flow on impacts to our industries, communities and trade. There are also impacts on the mental health of effected farmers and communities.

Timeline:

Early 2024 - Targeted consultation with government, business and industry. We undertook consultation with relevant government, business and industry representatives in February - May 2024, including two workshops and one-on-one meetings.

Mid-2024 - Public consultation on the draft plan. The feedback from consultation with government, business and industry has informed the development of this Emissions reduction and Resilience Plan - Agriculture: Consultation Draft (draft Plan).

November 2024 - Development and release of the final plan. We will analyse all submissions received and undertake further targeted consultation as required to develop the final Plan. The final Plan is due to be prepared by November 2024 as required under the Act.

Key themes from consultation with government, business and industry

In early 2024 we consulted relevant government, business and industry stakeholders, including holding two workshops. Participants told us what they are doing to reduce emissions and build resilience in the agriculture sector, the barriers and opportunities for further action, and how the government could support the sector to take action on climate change. Key themes from consultation included:

• providing independent, trusted information to farmers about climate change risks and opportunities and supporting information sharing between producers
• improve data measurement, reporting and verification of emissions, sequestration and natural capital
• investment in research and development, including fostering industry innovation and R&D
• recognise and contribute to a positive narrative about the role of Tasmania’s producers in land management and carbon storage
• ensure regulatory and policy frameworks provide certainty and remove barriers
• a fair framework for managing the costs of the transition to industry
• initiatives to accelerate the adoption of emissions reduction technologies and practices, and reward early adopters (for example livestock feed supplements, low emissions aquaculture feed, biochar, regenerative agriculture, increasing tree plantings and changes to fertiliser use)
• focus on measures that will be sustainable long‑term for producers, for example those that reduce costs, increase productivity or can generate income
• work with industry to deliver pilot programs and support development of industry or farm-level emissions reduction and adaptation plans
• measures to increase the social and psychological resilience of regional communities under a changing climate
• efficient use and protection of water resources.

The sectors identified for the development of Plans are based on the sectors identified in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) greenhouse gas reporting framework.

The agriculture Plan will consider the emissions directly accounted for in the agriculture sector under the UNFCCC framework, and will also consider other agriculture-related emissions where relevant. These emissions will also be considered as part of the other relevant Plans, for example in transport, energy and LULUCF.

The agriculture Plan includes aquaculture and fisheries. Where relevant, all future opportunities apply to both land-based and marine farming.

The Plan will also consider the transition of Tasmania’s agriculture sector to a low emissions economy, and how we can build resilience to the impacts of climate change on land-based and marine farming.

Relationship between agriculture and other sectors

Due to the nature of the agriculture sector and the UNFCCC reporting framework, there is overlap between agriculture and other sectors. The framework also means that for some agricultural industries, such as aquaculture, the majority of emissions are accounted for in other sectors. We recognise the importance of taking a holistic, systems-based approach to developing the Plans. These industries will be considered in the agriculture Plan but are also being considered in the other relevant Plans where appropriate.

There are particularly strong links between the agriculture and LULUCF sectors. These Plans are being developed concurrently to ensure all issues are considered across both Plans, and to support more efficient consultation with stakeholders.

The future opportunities identified in all sector-based Plans will be combined and inform the development of Tasmania’s next climate change action plan, including the identification of priorities and gaps not addressed through the development of the sector-based Plans.

How have the priority areas and future opportunities in this draft Plan been identified?

We prepared a State of Play Report (Report), informed by our targeted consultation with government, business and industry. The Report summarises the agriculture sector in Tasmania, its emissions, impacts of climate change on the sector, challenges, barriers and opportunities to reduce emissions and build resilience, and relevant policies and actions at the local, national and international level. The Report is available on the ReCFIT website at: recfit.tas.gov.au/policies_strategies_plans/emissions_reduction

In addition to consultation with business and industry and the State of Play Report, the priority areas and future opportunities have been informed by:

• alignment with existing Tasmanian Government policies and programs, including the Agrivision 2050 policy, Tasmanian Salmon Industry Plan 2023 and the development of Regional Drought Resilience Plans in partnership with the Australian Government
• our legislated target to ensure Tasmania’s greenhouse gas emissions are net zero, or lower, from 2030
• the other objects of the Act, including adaptation, contribution to international, national and local government action, and supporting a consultative partnership approach to action on climate change
• feedback from consultation on Tasmania’s Climate Change Action Plan 2023-25 (Action Plan)
• the 2021 Tasmanian Emissions Pathway Review
• the principles of sustainable development and social equity, transparency and reporting, science‑based approach, integrated decision making, risk management, community engagement, and complementarity (as outlined in the Action Plan)
• analysis of additional resources, including the Tasmanian Agri-Food ScoreCard, reports by industry and research institutions, industry targets and initiatives, and policies and initiatives being implemented in other jurisdictions.

The future opportunities under each priority area have been identified to address any gaps in current activity and help to reduce the barriers to action on climate change in the agriculture sector in Tasmania. The opportunities are intended to complement and build on the work already underway by international, national and local governments, business and industry, and the community.

Priority areas

Through targeted consultation, research and analysis, we have identified key priorities and future opportunities to reduce emissions and build resilience in Tasmania’s agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries.

Consultation highlighted that there is no single solution to reducing emissions and building resilience in the agricultural sector. A flexible approach is required to meet the diverse needs of the sector and ensure we can make the most of opportunities presented by emerging technologies.

We have grouped the key themes into five priority areas for action:

1. Improving the data, information and knowledge needed to drive change.
2. Supporting the uptake of practices and technologies that will reduce emissions and increase carbon storage.
3. Supporting the sector in the transition to a lower emissions economy.
4. Building resilience to the impacts of climate change.
5. Driving action through partnerships and collaboration.

The future opportunities in this draft Plan are intended to guide public consultation to help us identify the priority actions to include in the final Plan.

Consultation questions

To help us develop the final agriculture Plan, we want to hear your thoughts about the priorities and future opportunities outlined on the following pages.

1. What future opportunities (outlined in this draft Plan) do you think will have the most impact?
2. Are there any priorities or future opportunities missing from this draft Plan?
3. How can we collaborate to reduce emissions and build resilience in the agriculture sector?

Improving the data, information and knowledge needed to drive change

Helping farmers to ‘know their number’ and understand on-farm emissions is an important first step in reducing emissions, by ensuring measures are appropriately targeted. Monitoring on-farm emissions over time will ensure we have accurate information about whether any measures have been effective, and provides evidence and learnings for other producers. Measuring and reporting emissions and other natural capital metrics will also support producers to remain competitive in the global transition to net zero and comply with evolving reporting requirements.

There are some well-established opportunities for the agriculture sector to reduce emissions and build resilience. However, further research, development and extension activities are required to support the adoption of new and emerging technologies and practices in Tasmania.

Data and information about Tasmania’s future climate scenarios is also essential to enable effective adaptation action.

It is important that information is available to producers and agri-businesses in ways that they can easily access and use, so they can make informed decisions about the changes they need to make in their business. Providing consistent, effective and accessible information, including through education, information sharing and demonstration activities, is a key part of this priority area.

The future opportunities in this priority area are designed to build on the work already underway across the state and nationally, and address any gaps, to improve our understanding of emissions reduction and resilience opportunities in the agriculture sector and ensure producers have access to the information they need.

Current action

• Providing a $4 million grant to TasFarmers and partners to deliver a three-year commercial scale trial of low emissions feed supplements, providing comprehensive data on the impacts of the supplements, and informing the development of tools and resources for producers.
• Preparing Tasmania’s first statewide climate change risk assessment, that will identify and prioritise a range of climate-related risks and opportunities to support governments, businesses and industries across the state to make informed decisions.
• Updating Tasmania’s fine-scale climate projections to provide the most up-to-date future climate information to Tasmanians and play an important role in the development of climate change adaptation initiatives.
• Updating Tasmania’s Enterprise Suitability Maps to show how crops could be grown productively in the future under different climate scenarios.
• Delivering the Water Catchment Yield Science Update to update Tasmania’s hydrological models to inform water management.
• Investing $1.6 million into research that will help farmers to understand what influences irrigation efficiency and to adopt practices that minimise environmental impacts.
• Supporting TIA and IMAS to deliver world-class research, development, extension and education for agriculture and fisheries.
• Providing funding to the Centre for Marine Socioecology at UTAS to support the Range Extension Database and Mapping Project (Redmap) for another decade to track marine species redistributions under a changing climate.
• Providing funding for agriculture research, development and extension through the Agricultural Innovation Fund and Agricultural Development Fund.
• Funding Private Forests Tasmania (PFT) to deliver the Stems for CO2 program, which will provide data on carbon sequestration from trees and develop resources to communicate the benefits of tree plantings for farmers and other land holders.
• Private Forests Tasmania has also established the Tree Alliance Knowledge Hub to provide landowners with information about the benefits of integrating trees into their operations, and tools and resources to help simplify the planning process.

At a national level, the Australian Government has committed to:

• partner in the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC)
• accelerate on-ground action to reduce agriculture and land emissions through the delivery of information, resources and extension activities
• improve greenhouse gas accounting at the farm level, through the development of voluntary emissions reporting standards for the sector, and at the national inventory level by enhancing methods and data collection processes.

Supporting the uptake of practices and technologies that will reduce emissions and increase carbon storage

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to emissions reduction in agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries. Each agri-business has unique circumstances, needs, and capacity to adopt emissions reduction technologies and practices. It is important that the opportunities adopted are sustainable for farmers in the long-term.

While many of the emissions reduction and resilience opportunities have the potential to increase productivity, reduce costs and provide a range of other co-benefits in the long-term, they require initial capital investment that can be a barrier to their adoption. In some instances, it may be more efficient and effective for producers to adopt a range of smaller, lower cost measures across their systems.

The opportunity to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) may help overcome these barriers. However, participation in carbon markets is a long-term business decision, and there can be risks associated. It is important that farmers have access to independent, trusted advice, as addressed in priority area 3. In addition, particularly for many of Tasmania’s smaller farming businesses, projects are often too small to justify the associated administration and audit costs with registering under the ACCU Scheme.

The future opportunities in this priority area are aimed at assisting producers to overcome financial and other barriers to emissions reduction activities, to complement the measures to improve data and information through priority area 1. They consider direct agriculture emissions under the UNFCCC framework, and agriculture-related emissions in other sectors.

Existing and emerging opportunities to reduce agriculture emissions and increase sequestration

• Measures to reduce emissions from livestock, such as methane-inhibiting feed supplements, use of pastures which produce less methane when digested by livestock, earlier breeding and slaughter of animals, and selective breeding.
• Methods to reduce emissions from manure management, including biogas capture and use of urease inhibitors.
• Precision agriculture to reduce fertiliser, fuels and electricity use.
• Reducing or changing fertiliser use, including use of biochar or increased integration of legumes into crops and pastures.
• Using lower emissions aquaculture feed or selective breeding in the salmon industry.
• Using agricultural waste to generate bioenergy to displace the use of fossil fuels on farm or in other industries.
• Increasing tree plantings on properties and reforestation of land that has been cleared.
• Reducing the clearing of forest land.
• Increasing carbon sequestration in coastal and ocean ecosystems (‘blue carbon’), for example through seagrass restoration.
• Increasing the carbon stored in soils through changed farm management practices.
• Upgrading emissions-intensive equipment and vehicles for electric, hydrogen or more energy efficient alternatives, and ensuring machinery and vehicles are well-maintained and used in the most efficient ways.

Current action

The Tasmanian Government has a range of programs to reduce the barriers to adoption of the above opportunities, including:

• The $250,000 Carbon Farming Advice Rebate Pilot Program provides primary producers with rebates to offset the cost of obtaining expert advice on carbon farming projects.
• The Agrigrowth Loan Scheme provides low-interest loans to farms and agri-food businesses to support projects that advance the AgriVision 2050 target.
• The Landcare Action Grants Program, delivered in partnership with TasFarmers and Landcare Tasmania, provides grants for practical on-ground works for sustainable agriculture and rivercare activities, including carbon farming initiatives.
• The Low Emissions Livestock Grant Program is supporting a commercial-scale trial of feed supplements to reduce emissions from livestock in approximately 24,000 cattle across Tasmania.
• The Stems for CO2 program provides grants for landholders to assist with the upfront costs of integrating trees into their agricultural enterprise.
• The Bioenergy Vision for Tasmania aims to create an environment that supports bioenergy adoption in Tasmania, including consideration of the potential for circular economy solutions for agricultural waste.

Supporting the sector in the transition to a lower emissions economy

There is an increasing expectation on the agriculture sector, in domestic markets and from global trading partners, to report on and take steps to reduce emissions. Trading partners such as the European Union are introducing carbon import tariffs, and along supply chains, food manufacturers and retailers are setting emissions reduction and other sustainability-related targets. Among consumers, the demand for food that is produced in environmentally and socially responsible ways is growing, and sustainably certified products can attract premium prices.

The Australian Government is introducing changes that parts of the agriculture sector will need to comply with, such as climate-related financial disclosure requirements which will commence from 1 January 2025[1].

Producers also increasingly need to demonstrate that their property and practices are environmentally sustainable to access financing and insurance.

An important way for farmers to prepare for these changes is to measure their emissions, as well as other sustainability-related metrics. The future opportunities in priority areas 1 and 2, aimed at supporting producers to measure, report and reduce their emissions, will play an important part in the transition to a low emissions economy.

There are also opportunities for the government to support the sector to maintain and make the most of its reputation for high quality, environmentally sustainable produce, and to support the agricultural workforce to build its capacity and capability to adapt to these changes.

In the transition to a lower emissions economy, ongoing tensions between land uses will be affected. It is important to consider the need for sustainable food production, especially in the context of a changing climate, together with the need to increase renewable energy generation, increase carbon sequestration and protect Tasmania’s unique biodiversity values.

The opportunities in this priority area will support producers to maintain and make the most of Tasmania’s reputation for high-quality, ‘clean and green’ agricultural products, and enable strategic land use planning across the state.

Current action

• The $250,000 Carbon Farming Advice Rebate Pilot Program provides primary producers with rebates of up to $10,000 to offset the cost of obtaining expert advice on carbon farming projects tailored to their enterprise.
• The Farm Business Resilience Program, supported by the Australian Government, subsidises learning and development opportunities for farmers, farm managers and employees with a focus on improving strategic farm management capabilities.
• The government is working with TasFarmers and landholders to develop a compensation framework for farmers impacted by renewable energy projects.
• The government is funding a range of programs to grow and develop Tasmania’s agricultural workforce by promoting agricultural careers, providing targeted skills development opportunities, and supporting the workforce to access appropriate on-site housing.
• The government is committed to improving strategic land use planning in the state, including through the rollout of the statewide Tasmanian Planning Scheme, introduction of Tasmanian Planning Policies, an improved regional land use planning framework and comprehensive reviews of the three regional land use strategies. The reforms take into account the State Policy on the Protection of Agricultural Land 2009 which aims to enable the sustainable development of agriculture by minimising:
  • conflict with or interference from other land uses
  • activities on agricultural land that would prevent the land being returned to agricultural use.

[1] For more information see Australian Treasury’s Climate-related financial disclosure: exposure draft legislation released in January 2024, available at treasury.gov.au/consultation/c2024-466491

Building resilience to the impacts of climate change

Farmers on the Bass Strait Islands and mainland Tasmania are being impacted by unseasonably dry conditions in 2024. Under a changing climate, events such as these are projected to become more frequent and intense.

Changing rainfall patterns, as well as increased risk of bushfires, storms and floods, and rising temperatures, present a major risk to land-based agricultural practices. As Tasmania’s waters get warmer and more acidic, sea levels rise and extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, marine-based aquaculture and fisheries will also be impacted.

Increased temperatures across the state will also result in changes to Tasmania’s biosecurity. It is likely that a range of species will find the future climate in Tasmania and its waters more suitable than current conditions.

These are significant risks for farmers but also Tasmania as a whole, and can lead to reduced food production, loss of employment, and flow on impacts to our industries, communities and trade. These risks can also include adverse impacts on the mental health of effected farmers and communities.

The management of the risks and opportunities under a changing climate will vary across Tasmania’s diverse agriculture sector. It is important that we develop long-term resilience to these changes in our farms and rural communities, rather than only providing assistance in the aftermath of extreme events.

Tasmania’s primary producers have a long history of adapting to climate variability and are well placed to make the most of existing knowledge and practices to increase their resilience to a changing climate.

The future opportunities below are designed to make the most of existing knowledge and experience and address any gaps in current action at a regional, state and national level. Many of the future opportunities in priority area 1 will also support governments, businesses and industry to make informed decisions about climate change adaptation.

Current action

To support Tasmania’s agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries industries to adapt and build resilience to a changing climate, the Tasmanian government is:

• Providing support for farmers and communities impacted by drought in the Bass Strait Islands and mainland Tasmania, including financial support, and mental health, business advisory and animal welfare services.
• Partnering with the Australian Government through the Future Drought Fund to deliver the Regional Drought Resilience Program. Three regional plans will be developed to support Tasmanian communities to be better prepared for and resilient to the impacts of drought and climate variability events.
• Providing a modern water management framework through the Rural Water Use Strategy, including consideration of sustainable water management in the face of a changing climate.
• Investing in irrigation in partnership with the Australian Government, to improve water security and enable farm enterprises to adapt to changing rainfall patterns.
• Developing a Marine Heatwave Response Plan to guide government, community and industry action to reduce the impact of marine heatwaves on plants, animals and the environment.
• Taking into account the impacts of climate change in the state’s biosecurity import risk analysis process.
• Developing and updating harvest strategies to allow commercial and recreational fisheries to adjust regulations in real time to adapt to changes in the environment.
• Supporting research and programs to reduce the impacts of range-extended urchins on Tasmania’s marine ecosystems caused by warming waters on Tasmania’s east coast.
• Supporting community-level action through the recently-launched Community Climate Change Action Grant Program.

Driving action through partnerships and collaboration

To accelerate the adoption of emissions reduction and resilience measures in the agriculture sector, action is needed from business, industry and governments at all levels.

It is important that all groups are working together to align actions, ensure they complement each other without duplicating effort, and have mechanisms in place to share information and learnings.

There are already a large number of collaborative groups and initiatives for agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries. For example, the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) was established in 2024 and is Australia’s largest CRC to date, involving over 70 partners from industry groups, governments (including the Tasmanian Government), universities (including TIA), Indigenous organisations and many small- to medium-sized businesses and grower groups. The CRC aims to demonstrate how emissions reduction technologies can work together in farming systems and create pathways to low-emissions agriculture in Australia.

There are further opportunities to increase coordination between existing groups and support them to consider climate change as part of their work programs. There are also opportunities to support primary producers to collaborate with other industries to drive innovation.

The future opportunities below will enable increased collaboration between governments, business and industry to drive action in the sector. Many of the future opportunities in other priority areas also include a collaborative partnership approach.

Current action

Other partnerships and collaborative initiatives at the regional and state level in Tasmania include:

• The government partners with TIA and IMAS to support the delivery of world-class research and development for agriculture and marine resources.
• The TAS Farm Innovation Hub aims to increase collaboration across organisations working in research, development, adoption, extension and commercialisation, as part of building drought and climate preparedness, and brings together over 30 partners and collaborators.
• The Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group brings together primary producers, the food and non-food agricultural manufacturing sector, plantation forestry, agribusiness, and government, to address issues in the agriculture sector.
• Tasmania’s three regional NRMs work together towards a single vision for natural resource management in the state and play a key role in delivering Australian Government initiatives for Tasmanian farms.
• The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) Tasmania Research Advisory Committee is an expertise-based committee responsible for facilitating the identification and delivery of efficient and effective research for Tasmanian fisheries.
• The government is a partner in the Blue Economy CRC, which brings together partners from ten countries with expertise in aquaculture, marine renewable energy, maritime engineering, environmental assessments and policy and regulation. The Blue Economy CRC drives industry‑focused research and training to support transitioning ocean industries for Australia.
• The government is partnering with Tasmania’s wine and dairy industries to support industry-led initiatives to reduce emissions and build resilience.

Nationally, agriculture and climate change ministers from all Australian jurisdictions are progressing a collaborative nationwide agenda to reduce emissions and build resilience in the agriculture sector, including through:

• the development of the national agriculture and land decarbonisation plan
• the 2023 National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture
• the development of a First Nations Statement on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries by early 2025, to drive greater economic inclusion for First Nations Australians in these industries.

Implementation

After the final Plan for the agriculture sector is published, we will continue to engage with key partners and the community on the development and implementation of future opportunities as required.

We will keep stakeholders and the community informed through the Climate Change Office website, newsletter and social media.

We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter through our website: recfit.tas.gov.au/cc_newsletter and follow the Climate Change Office on Facebook to stay informed about opportunities to participate in relevant programs.

Reporting

We will prepare an annual climate change activity statement, showing the status of each sectoral Plan and progress on future opportunities, and the status of initiatives in the climate change action plan.

We will also prepare an annual greenhouse gas emissions report detailing Tasmania’s emissions for each sector.

These reports will be prepared each year and will be tabled in Parliament, as required under the Act.

As outlined in this draft Plan, we intend to work on improving our data capability to determine the impact of different measures in this Plan, and other relevant strategies, on Tasmania’s agriculture sector emissions.

Review

The Tasmanian Government is committed to a co-ordinated, whole-of-government response to climate change. Together with the Action Plan and the delivery of Tasmania’s first statewide climate change risk assessment, the development of the sector-based Plans is a strategic priority for the government that will be delivered in consultation with business, industry and portfolio Ministers.

However, we recognise that there is significant overlap between agriculture and other sectors, and that there are parts of Tasmania’s communities, businesses and industries that may not be comprehensively covered by the sector-based Plans.

We will prepare and publish a report outlining the links between all sectoral plans and the climate change risk assessment. The report will also identify future focus areas to inform policies and programs, including Tasmania’s next climate change action plan.

The Plans are to be updated at least every five years.