The Minister for Climate Change, Cassy O’Connor, today invited the public to comment on the future of Tasmanian Climate Action Council.
Ms O’Connor said the Council is being reviewed as part of the first four-yearly independent review of the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008.
 
“The independent Tasmanian Climate Action Council has been an important source of advice to the Government on climate change, so it is important that it is as effective as possible,” she said.
 
“The current Council has provided high quality advice in areas such as emission reduction opportunities, renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change adaptation.
 
“The recommendations provided by the Council on Tasmania’s opportunities for reducing emissions, in response to the Wedges Report, were integrated into Tasmania’s Action Plan to Reduce Emissions.
 
“The Council has also provided strong advice that Tasmania should set an interim emission reduction target.”
 
Ms O’Connor thanked outgoing chair Associate Professor Kate Crowley for guiding the first Council in its work, and congratulated her for the initiative to engage with the community through quarterly Council Meets Community events.
 
“The Council Meets Community events have been well-attended by highly engaged members of our community who are keen to be involved in taking action on climate change,” Ms O’Connor said.
 
Ms O’Connor said that it was good timing to review the independent Council now before the appointment of the next Council in 2012.
 
“Now that we have a national carbon price it is important to consider what the role and priorities of the next Council should be,” Ms O’Connor said.
 
“Tasmania has a tremendous opportunity to be a leader in the transition to a low carbon economy and the next Council has an important role to play in advising the Government on how to make the most of the opportunities.
 
“We also have access to some of the best climate science in the world and the next challenge will be to prepare Tasmanians for the changes in our climate that we can no longer avoid.
 
“Climate change is a complex problem with many solutions and I want to ensure that the community has a say in what those solutions should be.”
 
The review of the Tasmanian Climate Action Council is one part of the overarching review of the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008. The second part of the review will address the remainder of the Act and will be conducted in 2012.
 
The independent review of the Tasmanian Climate Action Council will be undertaken by John Ramsay & Associates Pty Ltd.
 
Public comment is invited on discussion questions and should be sent to Mr John Ramsay by email: jaramsay@bigpond.net.au or post to PO Box 404, Sandy Bay, TAS 7006.