TCCO E-Newsletter
June 2015
Welcome to the June 2015 edition of the Tasmanian Climate Change Office’s E-newsletter. We’re always interested to hear about your climate change adaptation or emissions reduction projects, events and ideas, so please feel free to send us an email with details to include in future editions or share on Facebook.
Tasmanian Energy Strategy
Following extensive consultation, on 7 May 2015 the Tasmanian Government released Restoring Tasmania’s Energy Advantage: Tasmanian Energy Strategy. The purpose of the Strategy is to identify ways in which energy can be used as a key economic driver for Tasmania. The Strategy has an overarching vision of restoring Tasmania’s energy advantage. Supporting this vision, the Strategy has three key themes:
- making energy work for people;
- reducing the cost of delivering energy; and
- positioning Tasmania for the future.
Underpinning these themes are 43 action items, which describe practical ways in which Government will respond in the short- to medium-term to deliver on the objectives of the Strategy.
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Tasmania's Greenhouse Gas Accounts
Tasmania's latest greenhouse gas accounts for 2012-13 were released on 28 May 2015. They show that emissions have decreased by 90% since 1990 to 1.7 mega-tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e). This means that Tasmania has exceeded its emissions reduction target (under the Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008) of 60% below 1990 levels by 2050.
Since the 2011-12 accounts were released last year, there have been a number of changes to the international rules that guide how emissions are estimated. This means the latest accounts can't be compared to the accounts from previous years.
One of the most significant changes is the inclusion, for the first time, of the emissions and carbon sinks (carbon storage reservoirs, like forests) from harvesting and timber growth in Tasmania’s multiple-use public forests, and from plantations established prior to 1990. The 2012-13 accounts show a more accurate picture of Tasmania's greenhouse gas emissions than ever before.
The accounts were released as part of the Australian Government's State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2013. We'll be publishing a more detailed analysis of Tasmania's emissions in July.
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Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) Update
The ERF is a key element of the Australian Government’s Direct Action Plan – Australia’s main approach to meeting its Kyoto Protocol commitment of reducing carbon emissions in 2020 by 5 per cent below 2000 levels.
ERF Auction
The results of the first ERF auction, held on 15 and 16 April 2015, have been announced. Contracts have been signed for 144 projects to cut emissions. The majority of the projects relate to landfill gas and carbon sequestration, where landowners are protecting or planting native trees and flora. Five of the successful projects are Tasmanian:
- AGL Energy Services P/L
- Glenorchy Landfill Gas Abatement Facility
- Hobart McRobies Gully Landfill Gas Abatement Facility
- Forests Alive P/L – Protection of Tasmanian Native Forest on private land in local government areas of Central Highlands, Northern Midlands, Southern Midlands, Latrobe and Huon Valley.
- LMS Energy P/L
- Copping Landfill Gas Project
- Remount Landfill Gas Project
New ERF methods
Several new ERF methods (accepted ways of measuring carbon abatement) have recently been approved. These include:
- An avoided deforestation method that estimates emissions reductions achieved by not clearing land that would otherwise have been cleared.
- An industrial electricity and fuel efficiency method that could benefit owners or operators of (usually large-scale) energy intensive equipment.
- A wastewater method that could benefit operators of facilities which currently treat domestic, commercial or industrial wastewater using a deep open anaerobic lagoon that is replaced with anaerobic digesters. Operators could include municipal sewerage plants, abattoirs and fruit and vegetable processing plants.
The reforestation and afforestation method, where landholders can cut their emissions by planting trees, has also been streamlined.
Tools and Guides
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has released the first in a suite of online education tools designed to assist people who are considering running an Emissions Reduction Fund project. The tools consist of a series of learning modules and video demonstrations. The first release focuses on projects that store or ‘sequester’ carbon in vegetation or soil.
The CER has also released information about
- aggregation under the ERF, (combining carbon abatement projects); and
- newness requirements of the ERF, for local governments applying for funding for emissions reduction projects.
ASIC has revised their guide 'Do I need an Australian Financial Services Licence to participate in carbon markets?'.
If you already have a project idea, take a look at the available methods. TCCO can provide broad advice on scoping your project proposal.
Sign up to receive updates directly from the Australian Department of Environment.
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New climate change tools for Australia
As part of the climate change projections released by the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO earlier this year, there are now two new climate change tools:
- Climate Analogues show how a changing climate will affect individual towns in Australia over the coming decades. The online tool matches a region’s likely future climate conditions with the current climate experienced by another region using average annual rainfall and maximum temperatures. For example, with an average temperature increase of 2 degrees, the climate of Launceston will be more like Melbourne, Goulburn or Armidale by 2030.
- The Climate Futures Tool uses the existing Climate Futures data and details the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ cases of the likely impacts of a changing climate, depending on the level of greenhouse gas emissions. The tool is designed to help users understand and apply climate change projections when preparing impact assessments and planning for climate change adaptation.
The national and regional reports can be downloaded from http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/en/.
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Upcoming Events
2015 National Carbon Farming Conference & Expo
This conference aims to educate farmers and regional businesses about how the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), under Direct Action, will work. Topics include the Direct Action Policy and the ERF, new methods farmers can take part in, the results of the first ERF auction, markets farmers can sell into and future government policy. The conference features a field trip, a two day conference and expo, as well as the National Carbon Cocky Awards Gala Presentation Dinner, an advanced carbon farming industry workshop and an Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) Transport and Agricultural Machinery Workshop.
Date: 7-10 July 2015
Venue: Albury Entertainment Centre, NSW
Information and registration: www.carbonfarmingconference.com.au/
GREENHOUSE 2015 – Atmosphere, oceans and ice
The Greenhouse 2015 Conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, industry representatives and science communicators to share and discuss the latest in climate change science, with a focus on Southern Ocean and Antarctic research. Over four days, conference presentations will cover the latest on climate observations, modelling and projections, climate variability and extreme events, and science informing adaptation. There will also be dedicated sessions on communicating the science and how the science informs policy.
The Tasmanian Government is sponsoring the conference, including supporting eight University students (undergraduate or postgraduate) who are resident in Tasmania by covering their registration costs. More information about how to apply will be available on our Facebook page and in our next newsletter.
Date: 27-30 October 2015
Venue: Wrest Point Conference Centre, Hobart
Information and registration: http://www.greenhouse2015.com/
National Energy Efficiency Conference 2015
Registrations are now open for the National Energy Efficiency Conference, Australia's annual event for energy efficiency, demand management and cogeneration. The conference will feature:
- Australian and international experts
- Technical masterclasses
- Debate and networking
- Latest technologies
- National Energy Efficiency Awards
Date: 17-18 November 2015
Venue: Pullman Melbourne on the Park, 192 Wellington Parade, Melbourne
Information and registration: http://www.eec.org.au/National-Energy-Efficiency-Conference-2015
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Other news
Coastal Climate Risk Management Tool
The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) has put out two calls for people and organisations to help produce their new Coastal Climate Risk Management Tool. They are looking for case studies of adaptation action in the coastal zone, showing examples of good practice from across Australia. NCCARF is also looking for organisations who are taking action to adapt to climate change and sea level rise to be Tool Development Partners. Learn more about these opportunities at the NCCARF website.
Clean Energy Council
The Clean Energy Council has released the Guide to Improving Electricity Use in Your Business. This guide is aimed at helping small- to medium-sized businesses improve the way they use energy and reduce operating costs.
Banksia Foundation Sustainability Awards
Entries are now open for the 2015 Banksia Sustainability Awards. These awards “raise the profile of the current sustainability issues facing Australia and recognise those whose initiatives are an encouragement and an example for others to follow”. There are 14 Category Awards, plus the Banksia International Award, the Environment Minister’s Award for a Cleaner Environment and the Banksia Gold Award.
Changing climate and rising seas: Understanding the science
This report, from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Government of New Zealand, explores what is causing climate change and one of its major impacts – the rising level of the sea. The aim of the report is to share information to provide a basis for public engagement and policy development. Given our proximity to New Zealand and our extensive coastlines, many of the report's findings will also be relevant in a Tasmanian context.
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