The Minister for Police and Emergency Management, David O’Byrne, and Minister for Climate Change, Cassy O’Connor, today co-launched the next report from the Climate Futures for Tasmania Project entitled ‘Extreme Events’.
"In order to prepare for and deal with the effects of natural disasters Tasmanian communities rely on research projects such as the Climate Futures for Tasmania Project to be better informed. This report examines extreme events in the Tasmanian context to determine how climate change might alter the characteristics of these events in the 21st century," Mr O’Byrne said.
"The report indicates that the pattern of extreme weather is likely to change across a broad range of climate factors.
"At the end of the 21st century, Tasmania is likely to experience an increase in hot days and warm nights, have more extreme wet and dry days and intense rainfall.
"The report findings will be critical to informing Tasmania’s emergency management planning."
The Minister for Climate Change, Cassy O’Connor said that the Climate Futures for Tasmania Project had been a crucial in understanding what Tasmania’s climate will be like in light of a range of greenhouse gas emissions scenarios.
"’Extreme Events’ outlines projections for extreme tide and sea level events, severe wind gusts in a changing climate, and flooding in Tasmanian rivers," she said.
"The report also includes information on coastal vulnerabilities and projected climate change impacts on infrastructure, which is all essential information to be used for sea-level rise inundation mapping and in regional planning by local government.
"The findings within the Extreme Events report are significant and will greatly improve our decision making capability in response to climate change in Tasmania."
Ms O’Connor said that the Climate Change Adaptation Unit will now work with the Office of Security and Emergency Management and the Tasmanian Planning Commission to develop work to support a precautionary, risk management approach to new development and planning decisions in Tasmania’s coastal zones.
"This is another great example of a power-sharing Government working together to prepare for the impacts of climate change," she said.
The report was funded under the Commonwealth Government’s Natural Disaster Mitigation Program and has received contributions from the Tasmanian Government, the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre (ACE CRC) and Hydro Tasmania.