Managing Tasmania's climate risks and opportunities

Hon Madeleine Ogilvie MP, Minister for the Environment

Tasmania’s Risk Assessment for Climate Change 2024 (the Risk Assessment) is the first statewide climate change risk assessment for Tasmania and one of the first jurisdiction-wide assessments in Australia. The Risk Assessment will be a vital source of information as we consider climate risks and opportunities for Tasmania.

I am pleased to present the Tasmanian Government response to the Risk Assessment — Managing Tasmania’s climate risks and opportunities. This response will guide the government’s future adaptation priorities and action.

The Risk Assessment was undertaken by Deloitte Risk Advisory Pty Ltd, in partnership with the Climate Change Office in Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT). The Risk Assessment is based on extensive research, climate scenario analysis, expert advice and analysis, targeted stakeholder input, and robust climate science. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the development of the Risk Assessment.

The Risk Assessment details the impacts climate change is having on the natural, social, built and economic domains of Tasmania, both now and into the future. The information in the Risk Assessment helps us to understand how these events will change over time and interact with one another.

The government recognises that Tasmania has experienced a number of natural hazard events in recent years and that, under the changing climate, these are projected to increase in intensity and frequency. We are committed to taking action to build resilence across our state. A significant part of this work will be ensuring that our inaugural risk assessment for climate change, and any future risk assessments, are widely communicated, understood, and made available.

We will also work to build on the range of resources already available, to make sure that Tasmanians have the climate science, data and information needed to make informed decisions when it comes to climate change. This includes building the capability of government to consider and respond to risks and opportunities of the changing climate.

Collaboration across Tasmania will be vital to the success of our adaptation action. We will focus on building connections across our economy and society to ensure that adaptation action can be efficiently delivered and can maximise benefits for a range of stakeholders.

Finally, we are committed to ensuring that our adaptation action is iterative and contains appropriate mechanisms to reflect and review the work undertaken, so that we can ensure continuous improvement. Our Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008 requires a risk assessment to be prepared every five years, ensuring that the latest information can be considered, and we can learn from previous assessments and action.

Tasmania’s climate is changing, and these changes will have an impact on our communities, environments and economy.

Impacts of a changing climate in Tasmania

• Significant change in rainfall patterns
• More hot days and heatwaves
• Increased ocean acidification and water temperature
• Increase in storms,  creating coastal erosion
• Longer fire seasons, more days of high fire danger
• Rise in sea levels
• Rise in annual average temperatures
• Fewer frosts
• Increased windspeed

In recent years, Tasmania has experienced a range of extreme weather events, including two significant bushfire events, a record marine heatwave off the east coast, prolonged dry periods in 2015-16 and 2019-20, and flooding. These events have had environmental economic and social impacts on governments, business, communities and households.

As our climate continues to change, Tasmania is likely to experience increased hot days and heatwaves, longer and more severe fire seasons, significant changes in seasonal and regional rainfall patterns, increased windspeed, rising sea levels, increases in sea surface temperature and ocean acidification, and increased frequency of storm events and associated flooding, coastal erosion and inundation.

There are also climate-related risks and opportunities associated with the transition to a low emissions economy. These risks and opportunities may be caused by changes in technology, markets, consumer and investor sentiment, policy and regulation.

• Technological changes
• Policy and regulatory changes
• Market changes
• Changing consumer and investor sentiment

The Tasmanian Government is committed to building resilience to the changing climate and collaborating to ensure our actions on climate change are connected and complementary.

Climate change will have wide-ranging impacts across Tasmania. Climate change is a complex, global problem and yet it needs local adaptation solutions and collective action. Information about Tasmania’s future climate risks and opportunities will help us make decisions about how Tasmania can best plan for and adapt to the changing climate, build resilience, and support growth and productivity across our economy.

The Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008 was amended in 2022 to include a requirement to undertake a statewide climate change risk assessment every five years, and take into account:

• the latest and best available science on the projected impacts of climate change on Tasmania
• consideration of the risks associated with energy transition, including social and  economic impacts
• consideration of economic, social and environmental implications of climate  change and assessment of the associated risks to Tasmanian communities, natural environments and ecosystems, and economic activity
• the impact of climate change on the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians, and future generations
• any other matter that the Minister considers relevant.

Tasmania’s Risk Assessment for Climate Change 2024 (the Risk Assessment) is the first statewide climate change risk assessment undertaken for our state. It provides comprehensive Tasmanian-specific information about the risks and opportunities climate change presents.

The Risk Assessment supports informed decision making by providing a holistic picture and useful  data about the impacts of climate change on Tasmania. This information will help the Tasmanian Government to plan and prioritise adaptation action, and improve the resilience of our systems, natural and built environments, economy, and community in a strategic and integrated way. It will also assist Tasmanian communities, local government, and private entities to undertake more detailed assessments of climate risks specific to their region or organisation.

Tasmania is the first Australian jurisdiction to have a legislated requirement for assessment of both the physical and transition risks of climate change, and among the first to release a jurisdiction-wide climate change risk assessment. This and future risk assessments will provide Tasmania with strong, iterative, up-to-date evidence about the challenges and opportunities the changing climate presents, and ensure we are well placed to manage climate risks and take advantage of opportunities.

Many other jurisdictions in Australia are also currently undertaking climate change risk assessments. The National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan are expected to be released in late 2024.

The Risk Assessment will guide the Tasmanian Government’s adaptation action on climate change for the next five years. We encourage all Tasmanians to use this information as a basis for more detailed climate risk assessments, and to inform adaptation planning and action.

This is the Tasmanian Government’s response to Tasmania’s Risk Assessment for Climate Change 2024 (the Risk Assessment). It details the Tasmanian Government response to the risks, opportunities and themes identified in the Risk Assessment, and sets out our strategic direction for climate adaptation in response to the evidence presented in the Risk Assessment.

The Tasmanian Government already has a range of climate adaptation activities underway, some of which have been considered in the Risk Assessment. Sometimes these actions are a direct response to an identified risk (such as a flood levee), and other times they are broader actions to enable effective adaptation action (such as education materials). It is important that we build on existing work and collaborate with others to maximise our efforts.

Our response to the impacts of climate change is multifaceted and will continue to be integrated across all relevant areas of government program delivery.

This document responds to the findings of the Risk Assessment and sets out how we will continue to build our capacity, adapt our systems, increase our resilience to climate risks, and pursue opportunities in coming years.

You can read the Risk Assessment on the ReCFIT website at recfit.tas.gov.au/cc-risk-assessment

Emissions reduction

• Technologies and practices to reduce emissions from agriculture
• Technologies and practices to reduce emissions from industrial processes
• Low emissions transport (for example electric, public and active transport)
• Increasing renewable energy generation and use

Adaptation

• Improving  social cohesion and connectivity
• Disaster preparedness and management
• Tools and data to support decision making
• Health program
• Infrastructure upgrades
• Planning for the future climate

Both emissions reduction and adaptation

• Sustainable management of soil, land and forests
• Increasing energy efficiency
• Land use planning and design
• Circular economy and resource efficiency
• Blue-Green infrastructure (for example, rain gardens, wetlands, green spaces)
• Supporting local supply chains and resources
• Information and education
• Nature-based solutions (for example restoration, conservation, sustainable management)
• Sustainable water use

Deloitte Risk Advisory Pty Ltd was contracted to undertake the first statewide risk assessment, in partnership with the Climate Change Office in Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT).

The Risk Assessment draws on internationally recognised climate risk frameworks, and primarily uses A framework for complex climate change risk assessment, Simpson, N.P. et al, 2021. This framework considers climate risk as being made up of a hazard or driver combined with exposure to the hazard, vulnerability of the community, element or system to the hazard, and any existing response to the risk that might help to mitigate it. This approach is consistent with that used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report.

The Risk Assessment assesses:

• physical climate-related risks and opportunities, including:
  • climate-related acute shocks, such as heatwaves, floods, bushfires, drought, coastal erosion, coastal storm surge
  • longer-term climate trends, such as temperature change, sea level rise, seasonal distribution and intensity of rainfall, incidence of frost, distribution of invasive species and diseases
• climate-related transition risks and opportunities, from changes in policy, regulation, technology development, reputation, and market shift, as a result of goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• climate-related complex, compounding, and cascading risks and opportunities, which involve multi-directional interactions between types of risk.

The Risk Assessment considers these risks and opportunities across four value domains (Natural, Social, Economic and Built), and evaluates them according to the level of the consequence (both now and into the future), confidence in the evidence, and the adaptation shortfall after considering any existing adaptation activity identified as part of the assessment.

These factors combine to give each risk or opportunity an adaptation urgency rating, from Tier 1 to Tier 4. Risks and opportunities with a Tier 1 urgency rating (most urgent) are considered ready for further action in the next five years. Risks with a Tier 2 rating are considered to need further investigation in the next five years to better understand the risk or opportunity or possible adaptation responses, before additional action can be taken.

You can read more about the methodology of the Risk Assessment in Chapter 2 of the Risk Assessment Technical Report

Targeted stakeholder consultation was undertaken to inform the Risk Assessment, including across government, and with key industry bodies, government businesses, non-government organisations, local government, research institutions, and community groups. This consultation occurred in stages over 2023 and 2024.

Stage 1: First-Pass Risk Assessment workshops

Regional workshops were held in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie in September 2023 to discuss the draft first-pass risk and opportunity scan. The workshops were supported by an online survey and several targeted briefings for those unable to attend the workshops.

Stage 2: Targeted stakeholder engagement

One-on-one interviews were held with key stakeholders and subject matter experts, as well as targeted cross-dependency sector workshops.

Stage 3: Targeted approach for Tasmanian Aboriginal organisations

The Climate Change Office (CCO) contacted a number of Tasmanian Aboriginal organisations during the development of the Risk Assessment. The Climate Change Office continues to work to build its connections with Tasmanian Aboriginal communities and acknowledges that more work can be done to ensure future risk assessments are representative of the in-depth cultural knowledge, expertise and understanding held by Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

Stage 4: Online adaptation/response workshops

Online workshops were held in mid-2024 with key stakeholders who have a role in adaptation responses, to understand existing adaptation action in Tasmania.

Full details of the consultation are provided in Chapter 3.2 of the Risk Assessment Technical Report

The Risk Assessment details the level of impact the changing climate and the global transition to low emissions is likely to have on Tasmania. It also provides a clearer understanding of the complexity of the issues, and the connections between risks and opportunities, experienced under the changing climate.

The Risk Assessment considers the economic, social and environmental implications of climate change and assesses the associated risks to Tasmanian communities, natural environments, ecosystems, built infrastructure and economic activity.

It also identifies the risks and opportunities associated with the energy transition, including social and economic impacts.

Many of the climate change hazards and resulting risks and opportunities identified through the Risk Assessment are consistent with existing research at a jurisdictional and national level.

The Tasmanian Government, through its comprehensive legislative framework and commitment to a five-yearly statewide climate change risk assessment is proactively considering and identifying climate change adaptation needs and opportunities.

The Risk Assessment identifies four key areas considered to be critical as part of any adaptation response:

1. State-level coordination of local efforts

The Risk Assessment highlights that adaptation efforts occurring at local levels require coordination and that increased information sharing between governments, business, industry and the community could improve adaptation outcomes.

2. Climate change will increasingly impact the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians

The Risk Assessment highlights that climate change is likely to exacerbate food and water security and put increased pressure on our key systems (for example infrastructure, transport and emergency services), while also impacting human health and wellbeing. It suggests that
a coordinated approach across strategies is necessary to address the intersection of climate change and health and wellbeing.

3. Education is vital to successful climate adaptation and increased resilience for future generations

The Risk Assessment indicates that education and awareness of the impacts of climate change can be improved across Tasmania.

4. Development of, and investment in, additional data collection is required to better inform risk-based decision making

The Risk Assessment suggests that Tasmania can strengthen its capacity to effectively address climate change impacts by prioritising development of, and investment in, data systems.

Read the Risk Assessment Summary Report

The first stage of the Risk Assessment identified 88 climate risks and opportunities for Tasmania. Of these, 40 were then prioritised for detailed analysis, with a focus on climate impacts that would benefit from action in the next five years. This prioritisation also incorporated impacts that will occur later in the 21st century, where adaptation activity may require a long lead time.

The 40 priority climate risks and opportunities are shown on the following page.

The letter and number attached to each risk or opportunity relates to their identification in Tasmania’s Risk Assessment for Climate Change 2024 Technical Report and Summary Report.

The full list of 88 impacts identified in the first stage of the Risk Assessment is provided in Chapter 2 of the Risk Assessment Technical Report

Physical risks and opportunities

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Risks to inland water ecosystems and species due to extreme weather events and chronic changes (N1)
• Risks to terrestrial ecosystems and species due to extreme weather events and chronic changes (N2)
• Risks to coastal ecosystems and species (erosion-related risk) (N3)
• Risks to marine ecosystems and species due to extreme weather events and chronic changes (N4)
• Risks to native ecosystems and species due to chronic changes enhancing biosecurity risks (N5)
• Risks to alpine ecosystems and species due to chronic changes (N6)

Transition risks and opportunities

Tier 4: Monitor

• Risks to the natural domain from the mining of critical minerals (NT1)

Tier 2: Investigate then act

• Risks and opportunities related to renewable energy development impacting biodiversity, inland water quality, marine ecosystems, and natural heritage (NT2)

Tier 3: Continue to monitor current actions

• Opportunities to optimise waste systems to reduce impacts on the environment (NT3)

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Opportunities to support water quality and biodiversity (NT4)

Physical risks and opportunities

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Risks to social cohesion and community wellbeing due to extreme weather events (S1)

Tier 2: Investigate then act

• Risks to mental health and wellbeing due to extreme weather events and chronic changes (S2)

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Risks to physical safety, health and wellbeing due to extreme weather events and chronic changes (S3)

Tier 2: Investigate then act

• Risks to cultural heritage, including Aboriginal cultural heritage due to extreme weather events and chronic changes (S4)

Transition risks and opportunities

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Risks to social cohesion due to the inability of institutions and governance systems to effectively manage climate risks (ST1)

Tier 2: Investigate then act

• Risks to social cohesion, and health and wellbeing due to insufficient services for a growing population (driven by renewable energy development and new industries) (ST2)
• Opportunities for increased skills and employment with business development for new and emerging industries that provide adaptation and resilience solutions (ST3)
• Opportunities for social cohesion, health and wellbeing through adaptation and resilience actions, including across domain co-benefits (ST4)

Tier 3: Continue to monitor current actions

• Opportunities for increased skills and employment with renewable energy development and new industries (ST5)

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Opportunity to improve financial wellbeing, and health and wellbeing through improved energy efficiency in housing, particularly for low-income households (ST6)

Physical risks and opportunities

Tier 2: Investigate then act

• Risk to businesses and public organisations due to extreme weather events (E1)

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Risks to national and international supply/distribution networks due to extreme weather events (E2)

Tier 2: Investigate then act

• Risks to the insurability of businesses, public sector and private assets due to extreme weather events and chronic changes (E3)

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Risks and opportunities to land-based primary sector due to extreme weather events and chronic changes (E4)
• Risks and opportunities to ocean-based aquaculture and fisheries due to extreme weather events and chronic changes (E5)

Transition risks and opportunities

Tier 3: Continue to monitor current actions

• Risks of slow, ineffective or no action on emissions reduction, limiting economic growth (ET1)

Tier 2: Investigate then act

• Risks to businesses and public organisations due to supply chain costs as organisations adjust to a low carbon economy (ET2)

• Risks and opportunities for business through the implementation of new technology to reduce emissions (including fugitive/ agriculture/industrial/fuel switching) (ET3)

Tier 3: Continue to monitor current actions

• Opportunities for economic growth through renewable energy supply (ET4)

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Opportunities for business through new revenue streams available from carbon markets (ET5)

Physical risks and opportunities

Tier 2: Investigate then act

• Risks to healthcare and emergency services due to extreme weather events (B1)

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Risks to the built environment due to extreme events and chronic changes (B2)

Tier 2: Investigate then act

• Risks to contaminated sites due to extreme events and chronic changes (B3)
• Risks to stormwater and sewerage systems due to extreme events and chronic changes (B4)

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Risks to ports and coastal infrastructure due to extreme events and chronic changes (B5)
• Risks to transportation networks due to extreme events and chronic changes (B6)

Transition risks and opportunities

Tier 3: Continue to monitor current actions

• Opportunities for public and active transport (BT1)
• Opportunities for improved flexibility within electricity infrastructure (BT2)

Tier 1: Ready to act

• Opportunities for infrastructure development to support the circular economy (BT3)
• Opportunities for lower emissions transport systems due to low emissions vehicles (BT4)

As our climate changes, we need to continue to adapt and build resilience in our systems and environments.

Adapting to the changing climate requires action and leadership at all levels, including Australian, state and local government, business, industry, community and individuals. We will need to work together to ensure we adapt in the most effective ways.

We also know that localised solutions, and adaptation action that is community-connected and led, is often the most effective.

There is already significant work underway by governments, business, industry and the community to improve Tasmania’s capacity to adapt to a changing climate and make the most of the opportunities that it presents. This work includes a range of actions supported by the Climate Change Office through:

• Tasmania’s Climate Change Action Plan 2023-25
• the six sectoral Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plans, which contain a range of actions to build resilience and respond to climate risks
• Tasmania's Emission Reduction and Resilience Roadmap 2024-29, which details the links, and common themes and opportunities, between all sectoral plans and the Risk Assessment.

This document details a range of actions designed to improve Tasmania’s resilience to climate risks and take advantage of opportunities in response to the findings of the Risk Assessment.

Action is focused in five key areas:

1. We will help Tasmanians understand the climate risks and opportunities in the Risk Assessment and how they might be impacted
2. We will support Tasmanians to access fit-for-purpose climate science, data and information to prepare for the changing climate
3. We will build public sector climate capability to strengthen how we adapt and make the most of opportunities
4. We will facilitate collaborative partnerships to support adaptation action
5. We will monitor and learn as we go, recognising that adaptation is an iterative process

By focusing our action in these areas, we will better understand climate risks and opportunities, and improve consideration of climate impacts across existing work programs and in future activities. We will broaden our capacity to respond to the impacts of climate change and progress more complex climate adaptation activities in future.

Specific actions to be undertaken in the focus areas are detailed below. Some actions are fully funded and ready to implement, and some are already underway but may require strengthening. Other activities require additional funding before they can be progressed. The status of each action is shown as either:

New: New initiatives that are being funded through the Risk Assessment response or have been recently announced.

In progress:  Initiatives that are already being progressed by ReCFIT or the relevant department.

Future funding opportunity: Initiatives that require additional funding before they can be progressed.

Tasmania’s next climate change action plan will continue to build on the actions detailed in this document, and further respond to the Risk Assessment.

We all have a role to play in adapting to the changing climate and making the most of the opportunities it presents.

Tasmanian communities, businesses and individuals need the right information and support to understand how they might be impacted by future climate changes and what actions they can take to reduce risk, and take advantage of opportunities.

The Tasmanian Government will continue to provide support for action on climate change to reduce risks, enable opportunities, and support the health and wellbeing of all Tasmanians.

While some risks and opportunities identified in the Risk Assessment can inform adaptation action by government, other risks and opportunities will require the efforts of businesses, individuals and communities. The complexity of climate change means that traditional risk management approaches aren’t always fit-for-purpose and new ways of considering, reducing and acting on risks will be required.

Sharing the outcomes of the Risk Assessment will also help us to make the most of the opportunities presented for Tasmania in the transition to a low emissions economy and as our climate changes.

Actions

Share information on climate risks and opportunities for Tasmania

We recognise that all levels of government, businesses, industry and the community need up-to-date, tailored climate information to prepare for and adapt to climate change. This information includes detailed projections of how our climate may change, and information about impacts for specific regions and sectors.

We will support Tasmanians to access and use climate science, data and information to help inform decisions so that we can all work to  adapt to the changing climate.

We are already providing information through initiatives such as the program to update Tasmania’s fine-scale climate projections, the Local Government Climate Capability Program, and the sectoral Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plans.

We will focus on connecting the science with the needs of users, ensuring that the relevant questions are answered and that information is fit-for-purpose and useful to inform decision making. This work will require connection between the expertise of Tasmania’s science and research community, and decision makers at all levels. Actions shown on the next page are designed to support this connection.

By improving the quality and accessibility of information, we can make better decisions and be more prepared for future climate change.

Actions

Support  new climate science

Improve access to useful climate information

Tailor information for specific audiences and purposes

The Risk Assessment identifies that education and understanding are key to enabling successful climate adaptation.

We recognise that many of the risks and opportunities identified are relevant to the work of government departments and agencies. We are committed to building climate capability in the public sector, and ensuring that consideration of climate change, and climate-related risks and opportunities, is embedded in decision making across our operations.

Actions

Integrate consideration of climate change into government decision making

Strengthen understanding of climate change impacts

Support cross-agency knowledge sharing and adaptation action

The Tasmanian Government will collaborate across all levels of government, and with business, industry, research institutions, communities and individuals. Everyone has  a role to play in adapting to the changing climate, and we will all need to adjust.

Building relationships and collaborating across sectors will help us find more cohesive solutions to complex risks and opportunities.

Adaptation is most effective when it involves everyone - governments, communities, households, individuals, business and industry - and recognises and capitalises on the skills and capacity each group holds. Tasmania’s Risk Assessment for Climate Change 2024 provides a firm basis for understanding climate risks and opportunities and helps these groups to better prepare for our future climate. Considering climate risk needs to become embedded in decision making for governments, organisations, communities and individuals across Tasmania.

Actions

Partner with others to drive climate adaptation action

Collaborate with the private sector to build resilience

Acknowledge good work

Adapting to climate change is an iterative process, and will require continued evaluation and an evolving understanding of the impacts.

The Tasmanian Government, under the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008 (the Act), is required to develop a statewide climate change risk assessment every five years. This means that the risks  and opportunities identified as part of Tasmania’s first climate change risk assessment will be evaluated again in five years. This iterative approach will enable us to improve on the processes used to develop these risk assessments, in line with international best practice. It will also allow for ongoing assessment of climate risks and opportunities, as new information is available.

This process aligns with other work required under the Act, including the sectoral emissions reduction and resilience plans and the development of climate change action plans. The Climate Change Office will continue to report on our progress through our annual climate change activity statements and greenhouse gas reports.

It can be difficult to measure the effectiveness of adaptation actions due to their diversity, complexity, and intended goals or objectives. Work is underway at a national and international level to better understand how we can meaningfully measure and evaluate climate change adaptation.

We will build on this work, support a culture of continuous improvement, and monitor and review our adaptation planning and action in line with our requirements for the independent review of the Act.

Actions

Learn from experience

Support measurement of adaptation activities

Learn from and share knowledge with others

Cycle for adapting to a changing climate

Over 2023-24 we developed six sectoral plans for:

• Transport
• Waste
• IPPU (Industrial Processes and Product Use)
• Energy
• Agriculture
• LULUCF (Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry)

The sectoral plans outline the priority actions for the government to support each sector over the next five years to:

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support Tasmania achieving its target of net zero emissions, or lower, from 2030
• transition to a low emissions economy
• build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The plans have been produced in consultation with governments, business, industry, and the community.

We have developed Tasmania's Emissions Reduction and Resilience Roadmap 2024-29 to link together the six sectoral plans and the risk assessment, and set out our pathway for emissions reduction and resilience across the economy.

The roadmap includes new commitments to support businesses and industries to address issues and opportunities that affect all sectors. It sets out how we will maintain our target of net zero emissions across our economy through to 2030 and beyond.

New commitments in the sectoral plans that will support our businesses, industries and communities in the transition to low emissions, and increase our resilience to the changing climate include:

• support the transport industry to develop a skills transition plan to support the switch to electric vehicles
• develop information and resources to support landlords to improve energy efficiency in rental properties
• work with partners to support households to make informed decisions about reducing or electrifying their gas and other fossil fuel use
• work with partners to deliver workshops for community sector professionals to
  assist vulnerable clients to manage their energy use and power bills
• work with relevant peak bodies and industry to map the strategic transition  requirements for Tasmanian businesses to reduce emissions from their energy
  use and industrial processes
• develop a program to support agri-food businesses to better understand climate-related risks to meet changing regulatory and market demands
• establish a group or partner with existing networks to coordinate action between Tasmania’s primary industries
• work with key partners to develop resources to increase understanding for landowners to participate in carbon and other emerging markets
• work with local government, regional development authorities and other  institutions to plant climate-tolerant trees in urban environments, to increase carbon storage and build resilience during high temperatures.

We are also developing a sectoral plan for the government’s own operations, which we expect to publish in mid-2025.

Find out more about the sectoral plans on the ReCFIT website: recfit.tas.gov.au/
policies_strategies_plans/emissions_reduction

Implementation

Some actions in this response are fully funded and ready to be progressed, and some are already underway. Other opportunities require additional funding before they can be progressed and are listed as a ‘future funding opportunity’. The status of each action is identified in this response.

Future funding opportunities will be considered for funding through the next climate change action plan, the annual state budget process, and a range of other funding avenues.

Further work will be done to identify gaps and opportunities for the development of Tasmania’s next climate change action plan.

Reporting

Every year, we prepare and table in Parliament:

• a greenhouse gas emissions report detailing Tasmania’s emissions for each sector
• a climate change activity statement, showing the status of each sectoral plan and actions in the action plan.

The actions in this response will be incorporated in the next climate change action plan and reported on annually as part of the climate change activity statement.

Continued engagement with government, business, industry and the community

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 ReCFIT website, Climate  Change Office 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 Tasmanian Climate Change Office on Facebook to stay informed about opportunities to participate in relevant programs.