Climate Change - David Llewellyn, MHA - Tasmanian Government Media Releases

Climate Change -


Primary Industries and Water Minister David Llewellyn said that the IPCC report on climate change highlights the need to examine what's being done or being left undone on the issue.
“A Tasmania-specific Climate Change Strategy is in its final phase of preparation after being circulated very widely for comment in its draft form,” Mr Llewellyn said.
"We need to look at what we are doing here in Tasmania to prepare ourselves with knowledge and strategies to adapt to climate change.
"And equally necessary are the right decisions and actions at a Federal level across the nation."
Tasmania's climate change program is being led by the Department of Primary Industries and Water which so far has:
· Mapped all the coast of mainland Tasmania for risk of inundation from storm surge and 84% of the coast for vulnerability to erosion;
· Held information sessions on this for local government and others involved in the planning system;
· Scoped the likely effects of projected climate change on Tasmania's bushfire risk;
· Started a two-year project to develop tools specifically designed to assist planning authorities accommodate climate information in their planning and management decisions;
· Focussed strongly on on-farm water development and other opportunities through the Water Development Plan;
· Now started a Climate Change and Coastal Risk Management project to better predict effects of sea-level rise on any vulnerable community assets; and
· Developed the Climate Change Strategy now undergoing final preparation.
Mr Llewellyn said that in the medium term, to 2040, research suggests that Tasmania will need to accommodate to changed climatic conditions to a lesser extent than other parts of Australia but nevertheless will experience:
· the effects of sea-level rise;
· increased rainfall in the west and central Tasmania;
· decreased rainfall in the north-east for parts of the year;
· more winter and early spring rains;
· higher annual minimum temperatures; and
· a small increase in wind speeds.
One part of the proposed Climate Change Strategy will be maintaining Tasmania's already low greenhouse gas emissions, based largely on renewable and clean energy from hydro and wind which supply virtually all Tasmania's energy needs.
"On this issue in particular, a major greenhouse response is being left undone: that is a change of policy and attitude by the Federal Government to encourage renewable energy across the nation," he said.