Tasmania’s net emissions have increased, according to the latest Tasmanian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report. It’s another indicator this government is failing to act on climate change, as an El Nino summer rapidly approaches our island.
The Liberal Government always boasts about being net zero, as Minister Barnett does in the latest greenhouse report. The reality is they can only do this because of the forests saved from logging under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement.
The state’s gross emissions have continued business as usual for the last three decades, while emissions from transport and agriculture continue to climb. In a climate crisis, it’s a shameful failure of leadership.
Even our net emissions have gone up in the last year. It’s proof of what scientists have long been saying – that our net zero status is at risk from native forest logging and bushfires.
We’re already facing a hotter and drier spring than usual, with elevated bushfire risk in the north-east of Tasmania. What the El Nino will mean for the Tasmanian community and environment isn’t yet clear, but Tasmanians are rightly worried.
In the face of this imminent threat, the Liberals should be working to decrease emissions and help Tasmanians prepare for the climate reality. But their recent non-response to the Independent Climate Act Review shows they’re fobbing it off.
It’s completely unacceptable. Tasmanians deserve better than this government of dinosaurs who won’t act on the climate science. We should be far beyond talking about climate denialism, but this Liberals keep holding us back.
The Liberal Government must act on the recommendations of the Independent Reviewers of the Climate Change Act – create emissions reductions targets across sectors, prepare a separate adaptation plan and establish an independent, expert advisory body on climate.
In the meantime, the Greens take our responsibility to be part of the solutions extremely seriously. That’s why we’re hosting a climate adaptation forum with experts in the field – aCLIMATiseE – at City Hall on 30 September.
