The Tasmanian Government is planning to request the state’s Climate Action Council to review Tasmania’s current legislated target for Greenhouse Gas emissions, with a view to introducing interim targets.


Currently, the Tasmanian Government has committed to reducing Greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.


Announcing the planned review, the Minister for Climate Change, Cassy O’Connor, undertook to work with the Council and Tasmania’s Climate Change Office to develop an interim emissions reduction target for 2020.


“Policy shifts like those in the UK and the ACT show that we can both pursue economic growth while we cut our emissions.”


Ms O’Connor said that with the Commonwealth preparing to introduce a carbon tax, Tasmanians needed to work together to secure a sustainable future for the environment, the economy and local communities.


“As the Minister for Climate Change, I look forward to working with my Cabinet colleagues and fellow MPs on the establishment of an interim target for Tasmania so that we can show leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation.”


The Climate Change Action Council’s advice on the setting of interim emission reduction targets is on the Tasmanian Climate Change Office’s website at www.climatechange.tas.gov.au