Tasmania already generates much of its power from renewable energy sources – now it has its sights set on 100% renewables.
Last week, the Tasmanian government released “Climate Smart Tasmania: A 2020 Climate Change Strategy.”
“Tasmania is a renewable energy powerhouse – our annual average electricity supply comes from 87 per cent renewable energy,” says the Apple Isle’s Minister for Climate Change, Cassy O’Connor, in the opening notes.
“The Tasmanian Government is continuing to support significant investment in renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar to ensure we make
the most of our competitive advantages.”
The Government took steps to a somewhat more solar-friendly regulatory environment recently by extending an exemption on rooftop solar power systems up to 38 square metres from needing a building permit; a situation that prior was beginning to paralyse the local solar industry.
Tasmania has also set a goal of slashing its carbon emissions by 35% by 2020. Unlike the mainland, Tasmania’s energy related emissions are quite low; however its agriculture, industrial processes and transport sectors are a major greenhouse gas sources.
“We still have higher per capita emissions than Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Brazil and India,” says Ms. Connor. “We are also noticing the impacts of climate change, such as higher average temperatures and more severe extreme events such as bushfires.”
The Strategy sets out 9 priority areas and more than 80 actions both to reduce emissions and prepare for the impacts of a changing climate.
Currently, Tasmania’s emissions, including LULUCF (land use, land use change and forestry activities), are about 25 per cent below 1990 levels, but have been trending upwards since 2002.
Climate Smart Tasmania: A 2020 Climate Change Strategy can be viewed in full here (PDF).
