An independent review into the State’s climate change legislation has found significant improvement is needed to drive down emissions, deliver genuine adaptation, ensure expert advice is on hand and provide accountability for failures under the Act.
The Greens welcome the Report of the Independent Review into Tasmania’s Climate Change Act. In a climate emergency, the Minister for the Environment must act with urgency and implement the recommendations of the Review Report.
The Review Report acknowledges Tasmania’s net zero status is achieved through this island’s carbon-storing native forests – better protected under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement from 2013-14.
A range of pressures on our forests, including from logging and fire, threaten their contribution to our net zero status. We need to stop felling and burning them while also driving emissions in other parts of the economy such as transport, agriculture and industry.
This is an important acknowledgement from the Independent Reviewer that the Liberals have adopted a business-as-usual usual approach in the face of accelerating climate impacts. The Review report make clear the Liberal Government can’t keep relying on Tasmania’s native forests to mask their lack of climate action – emissions reductions must be made.
The Review Report backs in policy changes which the Greens have been advocating for a long time. Recommendations include sectoral emissions reductions targets and progress reporting, adaptation planning and embedding climate change considerations across all government decision making.
Sectoral emissions reductions targets are so important to make sure emissions finally start coming down. Climate change is already affecting Tasmanians wherever they live. It’s past time the Liberals start planning to help the community adapt.
Also recommended is an independent body to monitor progress, evaluate performance and give advice on implementation of the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008. This will provide much needed accountability and oversight which has been missing since the Liberals abolished the Climate Action Council and abandoned the Climate Change ministry in 2014.
Enough dithering from government. The path forward has been laid out by the independent review team. Now the Premier and his entire Cabinet need to have the foresight and courage to act on behalf of current and future generations.
