Consultation Draft: Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan - Tasmanian Government Operations

We want to hear your views on the priority areas and the future opportunities identified in this draft Plan. We also want to hear your ideas about how we can change the way we do things to make improvements across our operations. Your feedback will inform the development of the final Plan for Tasmanian Government operations.

Key dates

Draft Plan released:                      14 January 2026

Written submissions close:           2 March 2026

How to have your say

You can make a submission by writing to us, answering the consultation questions below. You may submit your response online, or by email or post.

For more information about this work, or making a submission, please contact the Climate Change Office.

Online:  www.recfit.tas.gov.au/consultation_and_community

Email: climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au

Post: Climate Change Office,  Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania,  Department of State Growth,  GPO Box 536, HOBART TAS 7001

Phone: 03 6166 4466

If you are making a written submission, please include the name and contact details of the person or organisation making the submission. Personal information collected will be used by the department to acknowledge receipt of your submission and to provide you with the opportunity to offer further information. All submissions are welcome and valued.

We encourage you to read this draft Plan before you make a submission. The questions below will assist you to provide relevant feedback, which will help us develop the final version of the Plan. The consultation questions primarily relate to the draft future opportunities on page 1 of this draft Plan.

Consultation questions

1. How can we build on the work already underway to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate related risks in Tasmanian Government operations?
2. What future opportunities do you think will have the most impact?
3. Are there any priorities or future opportunities missing from this draft Plan?
4. Are there other ways government agencies can work together, or with the public, to reduce emissions and build resilience in Tasmanian Government operations?

Publication

Submissions will be published on the Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT) website (www.recfit.tas.gov.au) unless you tell us you don’t want it published. Your name or the name of the organisation making the submission will be made public unless you tell us you want to remain anonymous. Personal contact details will not be published. Defamatory or offensive material will not be published.

Any personal information you provide will be managed by the Department of State Growth in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act 2004. Personal information collected will be used by the department for the purposes outlined above. You have the right to access your personal information by request to the department

Tasmania’s Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008 (the Act) sets out how the government must take action on climate change. Under the Act, Tasmania’s emissions reduction target is to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, or lower, in Tasmania from 30 June 2030. To help achieve this goal, the Act requires the government to develop five‑yearly sector-based Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plans (Plans) in consultation with business and industry. The Plans will support a practical and balanced approach for our key sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate change.

The Plans must support greenhouse gas emissions reduction, the transition to a low emissions economy, and resilience to climate‑related risks. The legislation also requires that the objects of the Act are taken into account during the development of the Plans.

Plans must be developed for the following sectors:

• energy
• transport
• industrial processes and product use
• agriculture
• land use, land use change and forestry
• waste
• any other sector or sub-sector determined by the Minister (the government has committed to develop a Plan for government operations).

Delivery and timeframes

The government has committed to prepare a Plan for Tasmanian Government operations that will comply with the Act requirements. Unlike the six sectoral plans above, the Act does not specify a date by which the Plan must be prepared. The Plan is expected to be complete by mid‑2026.

The Plan will be tabled in Parliament and updated at least every five years.

This work is being led by the Climate Change Office in ReCFIT - Department of State Growth.

What are Tasmanian Government operations?

For the purpose of this draft Plan, Tasmanian Government operations are the delivery of outputs to the Tasmanian community through departments and agencies. The outputs of departments and agencies are diverse, but include services delivered to the public through schools and hospitals, public safety and emergency response, policy advice to government, and the delivery of programs to benefit the community and businesses. However, departments and agencies have common functions (such as transport, energy and waste) where we can make changes to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate‑related risks.

Why are we developing a plan for Tasmanian Government operations?

In late 2022, the Tasmanian Government legislated a new emissions reduction target for Tasmania of net zero emissions, or lower, from 2030. The Tasmanian Government also committed to develop an Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan for government operations (the Plan). The Plan will incorporate emissions reduction, transition to a low emissions economy, and building resilience to climate-related risks.

A baseline emissions inventory is currently being completed for Tasmanian Government operations. The baseline emissions inventory will be a comprehensive assessment of emission sources (attributable to Tasmanian Government operations) and will identify opportunities for emissions reduction. The emissions reduction opportunities are included in this Plan. Further information will be included in the final Plan.

The Tasmanian Government is a large organisation that is responsible for delivering a diverse range of outputs. As at 30 June 2025, the Tasmanian State Service had a total of 29,789 paid full-time equivalent employees. The total number of employees (headcount) as at 30 June 2025 was 36,168 (State Service Workforce Report No 2 of 2025).

While the future opportunities are aimed at emissions reduction and resilience, many also have financial benefits. These benefits include reduction in electricity costs and improved management of risks through asset management processes that reduce life cycle costs.

There are some government operations emissions that cannot be easily reduced. One example is helicopter use, which is vital in firefighting operations or to gain access to remote areas inaccessible by vehicle. This draft Plan aims to reduce emissions, where departments and agencies are able to within their current resources, and to manage difficult to reduce emissions as economically and sustainably as possible.

The latest data (note 1) show that Tasmania recorded net negative greenhouse gas emissions for the first time in 2014 and has maintained this each year since. Our emissions profile is largely due to the carbon sink in our managed forest estate and our longstanding investment in renewable electricity generation.

However, our emissions profile is not guaranteed into the future. Emissions are influenced by a range of factors such as population growth, major bushfire events, changes in consumer demand, market forces and technological advancements. We know we must do more to maintain our net zero status by reducing emissions in all our sectors, while also increasing the carbon stored in our forests (note 2).

The AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (note 3) confirms that humans are causing global warming and makes it clear that we need to act now. Global temperatures are now 1.1˚C above pre-industrial levels and are likely to reach 1.5˚C above pre‑industrial levels in the early 2030s. In Tasmania, climate change will have environmental, economic and social impacts on our businesses, industries, communities, and our natural values.

Climate change will create risks and opportunities that impact Tasmanian Government operations. Changes to the frequency and severity of extreme events (such a bushfires and floods) are likely to impact areas of service delivery, emergency response capability and many other government operations. Meanwhile, more chronic changes to the climate, such as changing rainfall conditions and sea level rise, will create a range of risks and opportunities for the Tasmanian Government.

It is important for the Tasmanian Government to build resilience to these changes to ensure the continued delivery of services for the Tasmanian community. Activities that build resilience may include considering how extreme events impact employees that work outside, or considering how weather events could impact the buildings we work in. Opportunities to build resilience will be explored further with agencies through the finalisation of this Plan in conjunction with other climate risk related programs being progressed by the Climate Change Office.

Tasmanian Government emissions

The baseline emissions inventory for Tasmanian Government operations is being undertaken by ERM Australia Consultants. The emissions reduction opportunities identified by the baseline emissions inventory will be shared in more detail with agencies in late 2025, and will be included in the Final Plan to enable agencies to take practical action.

Purpose of this draft Plan

This draft Plan has been developed to support the public to provide feedback on priority areas and future opportunities for Tasmanian Government operations.

The priority areas and future opportunities have been identified in consultation with Tasmanian Government departments and agencies. The proposed priority areas and future opportunities are outlined in the section “Priority areas for reducing emissions and building the resilience of Tasmanian Government operations”.

Funding for the plans

While there is some funding for the implementation of the Plan through Tasmania’s Climate Change Action Plan 2023-25, not all opportunities have identified funding. It is intended that the final Plan will be used by government in future Budget and planning processes to consider options for future funding.

Notes:

1.  Tasmania’s latest reported greenhouse gas emissions were released in May 2025 as part of the Australian Government’s National Greenhouse Accounts 2023 and National Inventory Report 2023. The Australian Government reporting framework is consistent with UNFCCC and Paris Agreement reporting rules. National inventory reporting runs two years behind the current date, and represents the most recent official data in Australia on annual emissions.

2. Point Advisory and Indufor 2021, 2021 Update of Tasmania’s Emissions Pathway Review – technical report (prepared for the Tasmanian Climate Change Office) recfit.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/348948/Tasmanian_Emissions_Pathway_Review_-_Technical_Report.pdf

3. IPCC 2023, Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report - Summary for Policymakers, www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/

Timeline

November 2024 to September 2025 - Consultation with departments and agencies

We consulted departments and agencies, including through an information request on current climate change activity and a workshop with agency representatives.

January 2026 - Public consultation on the draft plan

The feedback from consultation with departments and agencies has informed the development of this Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan – Tasmanian Government operations: Consultation Draft (draft Plan).

Mid-2026 - Development and release of the final plan

Consultation with departments and agencies

In late 2024 and early 2025 we consulted with Tasmanian Government departments and a small number of agencies.

Key themes from consultation included:

• consider a whole‑of‑government approach to streamline efforts and reduce duplication
• ensure any increased reporting obligations help efforts to reduce emissions and increase resilience and don’t simply increase the administrative load
• a strong desire that mandatory requirements are set at an achievable but aspirational level to improve outcomes.

Representatives from departments and agencies were provided with a ‘What We Heard Report’ which summarised the workshop and the suggested changes to the draft future opportunities. Representatives were also given the opportunity to provide further feedback on the What We Heard Report.

Feedback on the draft plan from departments and agencies

Throughout consultation, departments and agencies have referenced resource constraints and competing priorities in relation to the future opportunities identified in this draft Plan.

There is a consensus from agencies that a coordinated approach across department and agencies would be beneficial to reduce duplication of effort and streamline action.

The Tasmanian Government Operations Plan applies to all Tasmanian Government departments listed below.

Tasmanian Government Departments

• Department for Education, Children and Young People
• Department of Health
• Department of Justice
• Department of Natural Resources and Environment
• Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management
• Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Department of State Growth
• Department of Treasury and Finance

Agencies and other entities are encouraged to read this draft Plan and consider the future opportunities as they apply to their organisation. Tasmanian Government-owned businesses, including Government Business Enterprises and State-Owned Companies, statutory authorities and Homes Tasmania have not been consulted in the development of this draft Plan. Many of these entities have their own sustainability and climate‑related strategies and reporting requirements.

All Tasmanian Government departments were requested to nominate a representative to provide input to this draft Plan on behalf of their department. Agencies were also asked to nominate a representative on a voluntary basis, while considering resource constraints and the competing priorities of smaller agencies. This draft Plan has been developed with the input of representatives from the above departments and the agencies listed below.

Agencies

• Tasmanian Audit Office
• Tourism Tasmania
• Environment Protection Authority

The scope of this Plan covers a broad range of activities undertaken by government departments and agencies, from service delivery through our hospitals, schools, and parks and wildlife visitor centres, through to the management of office leases where government staff work, and the government vehicles that are purchased in the future.

We have identified priority areas and future opportunities to reduce emissions and build resilience in Tasmanian Government operations.

We have identified five priority areas for action:

1. energy
2. transport
3. property and procurement
4. corporate policies
5. reporting and guidance material.

The future opportunities in this draft Plan are intended to guide public consultation to help us identify the priority actions to progress under the final Plan.

How have the future opportunities in the draft Plan been identified?

We undertook research, analysis and consultation to develop five key priority areas to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate risks in Tasmania’s government sector. Tasmanian government agencies have autonomy across these areas to implement change or have been able to provide feedback to us on whole-of-government guidelines, policies or frameworks, such as the government’s commitment to transition the fleet to electric vehicles.

The future opportunities under each priority area address any gaps in current activity and help to reduce the barriers to action on climate change in the government sector in Tasmania.

The future opportunities incorporate emissions reduction opportunities identified in the baseline emissions inventory project, which is currently underway.

The priority areas and future opportunities align with existing Tasmanian Government policies and projects, including:

• Purchasing Framework Better Practice Guidelines
• government electric vehicle fleet target
• baseline emissions inventory for Tasmanian Government operations project
• Tasmania’s Risk Assessment for Climate Change 2024
• government climate capability framework
• our legislated target to ensure Tasmania’s emissions are net zero, or lower, from 2030
• the other objects of the Act, including adaptation, contribution to international, national and local government action, and supporting a consultative partnership approach to action on climate change
• the 2021 Tasmanian Emissions Pathway Review
• the principles of sustainable development and social equity, transparency and reporting, science‑based approach, integrated decision making, risk management, community engagement, and complementarity (as outlined in Tasmania's Climate Change Action Plan 2023-25)
• analysis of additional resources and policies, including initiatives being implemented in other jurisdictions.

What action is the Tasmanian Government taking?

Government sectors across Australia are prioritising emissions reduction in their operations, complementing state and territory-wide emissions reduction goals. The Tasmanian Government has started the journey towards a lower‑emissions government through completed or committed actions, as outlined below. The priority areas and future opportunities extend on these actions.

Consultation questions

To help us develop the final Plan for Tasmanian Government operations, we want to hear your thoughts about the priorities and future opportunities outlined on the following pages.

1. How can we build on the work already underway to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate related risks in Tasmanian Government operations?
2. What future opportunities do you think will have the most impact?
3. Are there any priorities or future opportunities missing from this draft Plan?
4. Are there other ways government agencies can work together, or with the public, to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate risks in Tasmanian Government operations?

Electricity use represents a significant proportion of total emissions for Tasmanian Government operations (55 per cent). Electricity use, and other emissions sources such as gas, fuel use and some domestic air travel, are monitored and reported through the Tasmanian Government Emissions Monitoring and Reporting Software. The reduction in fuel use for departmentally-owned or leased vehicles is included in priority area two, Transport.

Due to the high proportion of renewables in Tasmania’s electricity grid, the state has very low emissions from electricity generation compared to other jurisdictions. The small amount of emissions from electricity come from non-renewable electricity sources such as gas-fired power and diesel generators. How much we use these sources depends on a range of factors such as how much hydro and wind generation we have available, relative power prices, and the electricity demand in Tasmania and Victoria.

Tasmania imports and exports electricity to and from Victoria depending on power prices and demand. The emission factors used to convert electricity use (kilowatt-hour) to emissions (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) take account of imports from Victoria. These emission factors are recalculated every year, so reported emissions are strongly influenced by change in emission factors, as well as actual electricity use.

The energy priority area focuses on the energy efficiency of owned and leased buildings and improving the ability of departments and agencies to monitor and report their energy use and the associated emissions. Energy monitoring can help departments and agencies identify efficiencies across their operations.

Current action

Emissions and energy reporting through the whole‑of‑government emissions monitoring and reporting software

Tasmanian Government departments have been monitoring and reporting their energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions through various software platforms since 2008. Continuing to monitor the government’s energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions from its operations is a commitment in Tasmania’s Climate Change Action Plan 2023-25.

The emissions monitoring and reporting software currently captures the following information for departments:

• electricity purchased from the grid for government-owned and leased offices, buildings and other facilities
• electricity from solar PV systems on government buildings and other assets that are fed back into the grid
• electricity supplied to buildings on the Bass Strait Islands, generated on-island (not connected to mainland Tasmania grid)
• bottled gas purchases: liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and liquified natural gas (LNG)
• fuel use for government fleet vehicles leased through LeasePlan, and Avis hire cars
• fuel use for departmentally-owned and operated vehicles, vessels and machinery such as specialised vehicles, for example fire trucks, and includes fuel cards and bulk fuel purchases (emissions from fuel use, and emissions reduction opportunities are included under priority area two, Transport)
• domestic air travel where flights are booked through a centralised travel agency or booking platform.

For 2023‑24, electricity use made up 55 per cent of emissions captured by the emissions monitoring and reporting software.

A new software contract for the emissions monitoring and reporting software was signed in October 2025.The new contract continues the use of the IBM Envizi Sustainability Suite. It is vital that departments and agencies have access to this data so they can assess their current emissions and set goals to reduce them. The data in the emissions monitoring and reporting software should also assist departments and agencies to identify where savings can be made, such as by implementing energy efficiency measures.

Case study

Department for Education, Children and Young People Renewable Energy Schools Program

As part of the 2021 Tasmanian Government’s election commitments, a $5 million Renewable Energy Schools Program was established. The intent of the Program is that the savings generated from the installation of solar panels at school sites will be reinvested to fund further solar installations and sustainability improvements.

Twenty eight schools have had 1,315 kW of renewable energy generating capacity installed and commissioned under the Program. A total of 47 schools are projected to have new solar arrays installed and commissioned by the end of the 2025-26 financial year.

This investment in renewable energy infrastructure is expected to significantly reduce the need for, and reliance on, electricity from the grid and provide substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for these schools. Funding for the Program continues into the 2025-26 financial year.

The total emissions reported for Tasmanian Government departments through the Tasmanian Government emissions monitoring and reporting software is provided in the chart below. The measurement of emissions completed during the baseline emissions inventory project compiled and expanded on the emissions sources recorded in the Tasmanian Government emissions monitoring and reporting software.

Energy and emissions by type – Tasmanian Government departments (tCO_2-e)

Source: Envizi > Monitor > Performance by Data Type (excluding not-reported sites) as at 27/11/2024

Future opportunities

• Training for agencies to use the emissions monitoring and reporting software to identify cost savings or unusual trends.
• As part of the new contract in 2025 for the emissions monitoring and reporting software:
  • ensure all departments and agencies are included
  • ensure any future machinery of government changes are reflected in the system in a timely manner
  • explore options for reporting modules that allow for additional data, such as waste, to be included in the system.
• Consider installation of solar panels on existing and new buildings, recognising there are constraints with existing buildings, such as those that are heritage listed.
• Explore opportunity for new whole-of-government leases to include green lease schedules where possible to maximise the energy efficiency of occupied buildings.
• Consider upgrading lighting to LEDs with a focus on schools and highway lighting.
• Consider electrifying gas space heating and domestic hot water.
• Benchmark school performance using NABERS ratings for schools, including incentives for improvement in energy performance.
• Replacement of gas space heating with heat pumps (includes heating hot water, furnace systems and other direct heating systems) and domestic hot water systems.
• Renewable electricity procurement/whole-of- government renewable energy development.

The availability of suitable electric replacements for light commercial vehicles and specialised vehicles such as fire engines and ambulances is a challenge to the transition of the fleet to electric vehicles. The ability to transition light commercial vehicles is likely to improve as suitable alternatives become available in the future.

Case study

Through a concerted effort aligned with the broader whole-of-government fleet target, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) has made progress in transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles (EVs). To date, 6 per cent of the passenger fleet has been converted to EVs, supported by the installation of 13 charging stations across key sites.

While some vehicle classes (such as light commercials and utes) do not yet have suitable electric alternatives, NRE Tas has maximised opportunities where EVs are available and fit-for-purpose. This approach has delivered some progress towards the department’s target while also laying the foundation for broader transition as the market expands.

These measures are in conjunction with a review of NRE Tas fleet vehicles to identify efficiencies by centralisation where possible. This project aims to consolidate and ‘right-size’ the NRE Tas fleet to maximise vehicle utilisation, reduce emissions, and create opportunities for alternate mobility options. The goal of the project is to allow staff to access vehicle and transport options to undertake their work requirements, while minimising the use of externally-hired and private vehicles.

Future opportunities

• Leverage whole of government charging audit outcomes to develop individual agency plans to enable EV charging infrastructure on agency sites.
• Make EV education resources, including EV vehicle fact sheets, available to all staff.
• Develop individual agency strategies that consider the replacement of Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) vehicles with EVs.
• Behavioural insights to influence Senior Executive Service employees to choose an electric vehicle through their remuneration package.
• Continue to progress the existing policy to convert the government fleet to electric by 2030.

In this draft Plan, ‘property’ includes managing the buildings employees work in, including owned and leased buildings, and the long‑term planning associated with government assets, including maintenance and upgrades. Procurement involves the entire process in which all government resources are obtained, for example construction works, roads and bridges, goods and services, and consultancies.

This priority area includes managing the procurement of office accommodation for the state service workforce in a sustainable manner and encouraging lessors to offer accommodation that meets minimum standards, including energy efficiency. These practices can be embedded in agency strategic asset management plans, where climate change is considered in the context of an agency’s land and buildings, infrastructure, and plant and equipment.

Current action

The Procurement Better Practice Guidelines aim to assist departments and agencies with their financial management responsibilities in the area of procurement. These whole‑of‑government guidelines include guidance on the climate change and environmental factors that should be considered in the planning and documentation stages of a procurement. The guidelines also list attributes which should be considered when purchasing goods and services.

The Waste Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan includes an objective to reduce waste from government operations. Priority area one in this draft Plan includes a future opportunity to explore options for reporting modules that allow for additional data, such as waste, to be included in the Tasmanian Government Emissions Monitoring and Reporting System.

Future opportunities

• Consider opportunities to improve waste management. Opportunities may include guidance for staff on how to avoid, reuse and recycle waste in government departments and service delivery, including in hospitals, schools, and correction facilities, and in infrastructure projects.
• Include climate change considerations in agency strategic asset management plans and through the Structured Infrastructure Investment Review Process.
• Review climate change consideration in Procurement Better Practice Guidelines.
• Consider the energy efficiency, including the improvement of energy efficiency, of buildings that agencies own or lease, new buildings and renovations. This analysis may include considering building ratings such as Green Star or NABERS ratings where appropriate.

Corporate policies are guidelines that outline practices and procedures, or provide guidance to employees, supporting them to achieve the objectives of the department or agency in their day‑to‑day work. This draft Plan focuses on individual department and agency corporate and travel policies that can help to reduce government emissions and build resilience by changing behaviour.

Updates to travel policies can help reduce emissions from travel through reduced fuel use from both vehicles and air travel. Many corporate policies have not been updated since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Updates to these policies can include consideration of NABERS hotel ratings when booking hotel accommodation for employees. Choosing hotels with a NABERS rating means that government accommodation bookings are made at hotels that have had their energy efficiency, water efficiency and waste management certified and reported publicly through the NABERS website.

Current action

Many government departments and agencies offer end‑of‑trip facilities for employees who commute to work using active transport such as cycling or walking. These facilities are more common in newer buildings such as the Salamanca Square office accommodation in Hobart, while older buildings have retro-fitted end‑of‑trip facilities to enable employees to store bikes securely and shower at the end of their commute. The emissions associated with employee commuting are classified as scope 3 emissions.

Case study

Leveraging its carbon emissions data, Tourism Tasmania has developed and implemented a number of sustainability measures, including:

• positive impact contract terms and conditions for third-party suppliers, including embedding ESG principles in major procurement conditions
• an office waste segregation and management plan
• prioritising re-use, and mandating recycling for all end-of-life office assets
• travel policy promoting low-impact options including flight offsets, proximity-based sustainable accommodation selection, electric/hybrid vehicle preference, and public transport over private transport
• reduced paper use by removing a printer and switching to more renewable Australian suppliers for office stationery.

Tourism Tasmania has developed a Positive Impact Plan, which will focus their efforts on areas where they want to maximise our impact.

Future opportunities

• Update agency corporate and travel policies to consider emissions reduction. Consideration may include direct versus indirect flights, the purchase of carbon offsets for flight bookings, using NABERS hotel ratings when booking accommodation, and considering hotels with EV charging facilities.
• Corporate policy updates may include consideration of minimising emissions for purchased goods or services, for example only buying 100 per cent recycled paper.
• Consider support for active transport, such as provision of end of trip facilities.

The Tasmanian Government Emissions Monitoring and Reporting Software will enable departments and agencies to collect data and use it to support emissions reduction and increase resilience to climate change. Departments and agencies will be able to set goals, track progress against these goals or targets, and consider the effectiveness of any measures implemented.

Training and guidance material aims to support departments and agencies to interpret and report data and to assist with understanding of, and compliance with, potential future reporting requirements such as mandatory climate-related financial disclosures.

Australia's climate-related financial disclosure regime commenced on 1 January 2025 and requires corporate entities to make climate-related financial disclosures part of a new sustainability report. These disclosures are in addition to existing obligations to prepare annual financial reports under the Corporations Act 2001. The reporting obligations will be phased in and large entities are required to begin reporting from 1 January 2025. It is not yet clear how this will apply to Tasmanian Government departments and agencies.

Current action

The Department of Treasury and Finance is leading work to consider potential future requirements of climate-related financial disclosures for Tasmanian Government departments and agencies.

Departments can access data from the Tasmanian Government Emissions Monitoring and Reporting Software to analyse and publish if they choose. Some departments published their emissions in their 2023‑24 Annual Report, including the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, the Department of Justice, and the Department for Education, Children and Young People. Tourism Tasmania publishes emissions data in its annual report, however Tourism Tasmania uses a separate software platform, Pathzero, to measure and report its emissions.

Case study

Tourism Tasmania has taken the initial steps in its environmental sustainability journey by establishing a carbon emissions baseline for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 financial years. This baseline includes emissions produced directly by the agency and those associated with the goods and services it procures. Using this data, the agency has already initiated sustainability measures to reduce its carbon footprint and will continue these efforts.

Future opportunities

• Report agency emissions in annual reports using data sourced from the emissions monitoring and reporting software.
• Develop individual agency emissions reduction plans with Climate Change Office support.
• Consider inclusion of climate change information (such as climate risks and opportunities, progress towards reducing emissions, energy ratings) in reports published by agencies.
• Training developed for agencies to understand reporting requirements, including climate-related financial disclosures, climate literacy and risk management.

Implementation

Following the development and publication of the final Plan for Tasmanian Government operations, we will continue to work with departments and agencies on the development and implementation of future opportunities as required.

We will keep stakeholders and the community informed through the Climate Change Office website, newsletter and social media.

We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter through our website: www.recfit.tas.gov.au/climate and follow the Tasmanian Climate Change Office on Facebook to stay informed.

Reporting

We will prepare an annual climate change activity statement, showing the status of the Plan and progress on future opportunities identified, and the status of initiatives in the climate change action plan.

We will also prepare an annual greenhouse gas emissions report detailing Tasmania’s emissions for each sector.

These reports will be prepared each year and will be tabled in Parliament, as required under the Act.

Review

The Tasmanian Government is committed to a co-ordinated, whole-of-government response to climate change. Together with the climate change action plan and the delivery of Tasmania’s first statewide climate change risk assessment, the development of the sector-based Plans and the Plan for government operations is a strategic priority for the government that will be delivered in consultation with business, industry and portfolio Ministers.

We will analyse the priorities and actions in the Plans, the most up-to-date information about our emissions and future climate, and other resources, to identify gaps and opportunities for action.

The Plans are to be updated at least every five years.