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    Tasmania's climate change legislation

    The Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008 (the Act) sets the Tasmanian Government’s legislative framework for action on climate change. The Act requires that an independent review of its operation is undertaken every four years.

    The Act was most recently reviewed in 2020-21. This review informed a range of amendments to the Act, which were enacted in November 2022.

    Our work is also guided by the Climate Change (Greenhouse Gas Emissions) Regulations 2022

    2024-25 Independent Review of the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008

    The 2024-25 independent review of the Act commenced in December 2024. As required by the Act (subsection 18(2)), the review will address:

    1. the extent to which the objects of the Act are being achieved
    2. the extent to which additional legislative measures, if any, are considered necessary to achieve the targets set by the Act in the periods contemplated by the Act, including the introduction of performance standards or other mandatory requirements
    3. such other matters as the Minister may consider relevant to the review of the Act.

    The 2024-25 review will also consider climate change governance arrangements in Tasmania.

    The review will be conducted in consultation with the Tasmanian community, relevant business, industry, scientific, environmental and community bodies, children and young people, local government, and relevant unions and representative groups.

    The Climate Change Office is engaging an independent consultant to conduct the review. The Terms of Reference detail the full scope of the review.

    Terms of Reference

    Changes to the Act in 2022

    The major changes to the Act made in 2022 included new requirements for the government to:

    • work with industry and business to develop sector-based emissions reduction and resilience plans, to be updated every five years
    • prepare a climate change action plan every five years
    • prepare a statewide climate change risk assessment, which considers the risks associated with energy transition (including social and economic impacts) to be updated every five years
    • prepare and publish an annual greenhouse gas emissions report and an annual climate change activity statement.

    The changes also consolidated the objects of the Act to establish a clear framework for the government’s action on climate change. This included supporting a consultative partnership approach with relevant business, industry, scientific, environmental and community bodies, children and young people, local government, and the Tasmanian community.

    The government also committed to develop a whole-of-government policy framework to ensure relevant government plans, policies and strategies consider climate change, and undertake a climate change governance review.

    You can read the Climate Change (State Action) Amendment Act 2022 on the Tasmanian legislation website.

    The Bill was developed in response to the findings of the most recent independent review of the Act; the Tasmanian Emissions Pathway Review; the Economic Impact Analysis project; and extensive consultation with business, industry and the community.

    Supporting information on the previous legislative review and amendments

    The Climate Change (State Action) Amendment Bill 2021 (the Bill) was developed in response to the findings of:

    The Bill was tabled in Parliament in November 2021 and passed both Houses of Parliament in November 2022.

    A draft Bill was released for consultation from 13 October 2021 to 14 November 2021. Sixty-four submissions on the draft Bill were received; 39 from individuals and 25 from organisations. The submissions are published on our consultation page.

    The recommendations in the submissions varied from minor administrative issues with the draft Bill, to more significant policy issues, such as legislating sectoral targets; legislating exclusion of sectoral targets; establishing an independent advisory council; and legislating consideration of climate change in government decision making.

    Submissions were generally supportive of the proposed new emissions reduction target. Some submissions recommended the Government set a more ambitious target.

    In response to consultation feedback on the draft Bill, the Bill was amended to:

    • include explicit references to children and young people and local government in the objects of the Act
    • ensure the development of a climate change action plan is informed by the most recent statewide climate change risk assessment and emissions reduction and resilience plans
    • require that a climate change action plan is published in formats that are accessible to a wide range of audiences, including children and young people
    • require the portfolio Minister to consider the impact of climate change on future generations when developing a statewide climate change risk assessment
    • include a number of measures to increase the transparency and accountability of the Tasmanian Government’s climate response
    • make a number of minor adjustments to the definitions in the Bill, including adding a formal definition of climate change.

    The 2020-21 independent review was delivered by consulting firm Jacobs, in June 2021. It was conducted in consultation with the Tasmanian community.

    Reviewing Tasmania's emissions reduction target

    The Act previously set an emissions reduction target to reduce emissions to at least 60 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. A key focus of the review was to consult with industry, business and the community on options to revise Tasmania’s emissions reduction target. Two supporting projects were delivered: an update to Tasmania’s Emissions Pathway Review and a detailed economic analysis of the impacts on industry and employment in relation to a more ambitious net zero emissions target.

    Recommendations of the 2020-21 review

    The 2020-21 independent review made the following seven recommendations to amend the Act:

    1. Net zero emissions from 2030
    2. Consolidate the objects of the Act
    3. A set of principles to guide climate action
    4. Relevant Tasmanian Government plans, policies and strategies are guided by climate change
    5. Make a Climate Action Plan a legislative requirement
    6. Statewide climate change risk assessment
    7. Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plans for key sectors

    Consultation on the review

    As required by the Act, the 2020-21 independent review was carried out in consultation with relevant business, scientific, environment and community bodies, through a series of one-on-one meetings, sector specific workshops and public online workshops, followed by a public call for written submissions in response to a Discussion Paper.

    Written submissions

    Jacobs prepared a Discussion Paper to guide preparation of written submissions. To provide additional information for consultation regarding Tasmania's emissions reduction target, consultancy firms Point Advisory and Indufor developed a Net Zero Emissions Background Paper.

    Jacobs received 54 written submissions to the review. Six submissions were submitted confidentially and will not be published. You can read the public submissions on the consultation page.

    The Tasmanian Government prepared a response to the final report of the review. The response supports all recommendations of the review, either in full or in-principle.