Towards a climate-positive Tasmania

A discussion paper.

Tasmanian Policy Exchange

We are facing a climate emergency that demands urgent global and local action.

The need for aggressive climate action is clear and compelling. While confronting, this is a challenge that we must embrace with a sense of hope rather than despair. Tasmania, with its negative emissions profile and renewable energy assets, can be an example to the world on climate action, but much more does need to be done.

The University of Tasmania is deeply committed to climate action and sustainability in all its activities and operations. Given the depth and breadth of the University’s climate change expertise, we have prepared this Discussion Paper as a contribution to the development of Tasmania’s next Climate Action Plan.

The paper outlines an ambitious vision for a ‘climate-positive’ Tasmania and policy options designed to establish the state as a global exemplar of effective and ambitious climate action.

Our vision for a climate-positive Tasmania has three key elements:

  1. Making a clear commitment to maintaining Tasmania’s world-leading ‘net-negative’ emissions profile to 2030 and beyond. Analysis presented in the Paper suggests that under a high-emissions (worst-case) scenario, emissions across the Tasmanian economy (excluding land use) will have to decline by 37% relative to 2019 levels to maintain Tasmania’s current net-negative emissions profile.
  2. Undertaking comprehensive climate risk assessments and developing and implementing sectoral adaptation plans to prepare for and minimise the impacts of unavoidable climate change.
  3. Continuing to develop and deploy profitable low- and zero-carbon technologies and practices to further reduce emissions in key Tasmanian industry sectors while contributing to and capitalising on the accelerating decarbonisation of the global economy.

Implementing a comprehensive strategy to establish a ‘climate-positive’ Tasmania will deliver considerable social, economic, and environmental benefits, but it will also be complex and challenging. It will require deep community-wide engagement and a willingness to making difficult choices – our hope is that this Discussion Paper, alongside the University’s ongoing commitment to climate research, education, and action, contributes to this process.

The Discussion Paper and companion resources comprise the following:

If you would like a briefing or further information on this Discussion Paper or The University of Tasmania's ongoing research and analysis on employment in Tasmania please contact:

Prof. Richard Eccleston, Director of the Tasmanian Policy Exchange – Richard.Eccleston@utas.edu.au

Sarah Hyslop, Project Manager, Tasmanian Policy Exchange – Sarah.Hyslop@utas.edu.au