Review of Tasmania's climate change legislation

A statutory independent review of the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008 (the Act) was undertaken in 2021.

The review made seven recommendations to amend the Act to strengthen the state's legislative framework for action on climate change.

Learn more about Tasmania's climate change legislation.

Previous consultation

Consultation included a series of one-on-one meetings and public online workshops, followed by the release of an Opportunities Paper and public call for written submissions.

Read the Opportunities Paper:

We received 41 submissions in response to the Opportunities Paper. Three submissions were submitted confidentially and will not be published. You can read the submissions on our consultation page.

We prepared a summary of the consultation feedback on development of the next action plan.

CCYP Ambassadors

As part of the consultation process, workshops were held with the Commissioner for Children and Young People (CCYP) Ambassadors, in Devonport, Launceston, and Hobart, as well as an online workshop.

Tasmanian Youth Climate Leaders

The Tasmanian Government has supported the Greening Australia Tasmanian Youth Climate Leaders' Conferences over many years and will continue to support a Youth Climate Leaders program. Our team attended the conferences to hear their thoughts and ideas about climate change. Watch the Youth Climate Leaders 2021 video.

Climate Action 21: Tasmania's Climate Change Action Plan 2017-2021 (PDF 3.0 MB) (Climate Action 21) and the Climate Action 21 Implementation Plan (PDF 5.2 MB) were released in 2017.

Climate Action 21 set the Tasmanian Government's agenda for action on climate change through to 2021. The Climate Action 21 Implementation Plan committed to releasing a Report Card each year. Report Cards were released for 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20.

The 2021 Report Card contains information on progress against the actions contained in Climate Action 21. This is the final report card for Climate Action 21:

  • Electric Vehicle Working Group
  • Smarter Fleets Program – supported Tasmanian Government, local government and heavy vehicle fleets to improve fleet efficiency and prepare for electric vehicle uptake
  • Electric Vehicle ChargeSmart Grants Program – investment of over $600,000 to support a statewide electric vehicle destination and fast charging network
  • Transitioning government vehicle fleets to 100 per cent electric vehicles by 2030
  • Community 'try and drive an EV' days
  • Business Resource Efficiency Program – supported 11 Tasmanian businesses to reduce waste
  • Power$mart Businesses Program – supported 28 businesses to undertake energy efficiency audits and reduce energy use
  • Forty eight businesses completed continuity planning to prepare for and respond to extreme events
  • Climate change research
    • $750,000 in grant funding for 16 priority climate research projects
    • undertook priority research on compound extreme events
    • updated enterprise suitability mapping for key crops to support agricultural decision making
  • Climate Resilient Councils – supported 17 councils to understand and improve how climate change is considered by their council when making strategic and financial decisions
  • Tasmanian Climate Symposium – held three annual Symposiums in 2018, 2019 and 2020
  • Climate Change and Health Roundtable
  • Coastal Hazards Management for Existing Settlements and Values Project
  • Twelve statewide workshops for financial counsellors to better assist vulnerable clients to manage their energy use and power bills
  • An additional 339 hectares of land now irrigated with effluent under Fert$mart
  • Conducting energy audits of government buildings
  • Partnered with organisations on local climate change initiatives, including:
    • Curious Climate Tasmania
    • Food and Waste Solution Hub event
    • Tasmanian Youth Climate Leaders Conferences
    • Climate Justice Conference
    • Autonomous electric bus trial
  • Energy efficiency audits of nine aged care facilities and a range of resources developed to support the aged care sector to prepare for, and respond to, extreme heat events.