To whom it may concern,
Thank you for the opportunity to submit to the review of the Climate Change Act 2008. YIMBY stands for Yes In My Backyard. YIMBY Hobart was established to advocate for:
Housing abundance: More housing of all types where people want to live.
A city for people at all ages and stages, of all means and abilities: Our city and suburbs should reflect the diversity of the community as a whole.
Better access for everyone: Being an active participant in our city should not rely on owning a car.
Tasmania’s gross emissions are not falling
Tasmania is no longer a climate leader. Our net zero claims rest overwhelmingly on the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector. Tasmania’s gross emissions, from energy, transport, industry and waste, have not materially declined since 1990. Other jurisdictions have significantly reduced their gross emissions through structural changes in energy supply, efficiency and transport.Â
Cities are vital to mitigation and adaptation
Most Tasmanians live in cities, and most non-agricultural and industrial emissions come from those cities. Better-connected cities reduce emissions across multiple sectors:
Transport: Tasmania’s car dependence and lower incomes will make electric vehicle uptake slower and decarbonisation more difficult. Density supports walking and cycling, and strengthens the business case for public transport.
Buildings: Apartments and townhouses are more energy efficient than detached dwellings, leading to reduced household energy use and associated emissions.
Land use: Building up within our cities reduces pressure to clear or fragment native forests on the urban fringe.
With climate change driving more extreme weather, how and where we build matters for adaptation as much as for mitigation. A denser, more efficient Hobart is not only lower-emissions, it is also more resilient:
Thermal efficiency: Newer apartments and townhouses are more thermally efficient than older detached homes, keeping residents safer in heatwaves.
Proximity to services: Locating more people closer to hospitals and other essential services improves resilience during extreme weather events.
Urban heat island effect: Inner suburbs typically have greater tree cover, reducing the urban heat island effect.
Bushfire risk: Concentrating growth in existing activity centres avoids pushing more households onto the fire-prone urban fringe, reducing exposure to catastrophic bushfire events.
Adaptation and mitigation are not separate agendas in cities. Building denser cities is one of the most effective ways Tasmania can cut emissions and keep people safe. The inverse is also true; continuing to build on the urban fringe will drive increased emissions and expose more people to extreme weather and natural disasters.
The benefits of denser cities beyond climate action
Densification is not only a climate solution, it delivers a host of broader benefits. More compact, well-connected neighbourhoods reduce emissions from transport and buildings, but they also boost productivity by cutting congestion and time lost to long commutes. Concentrating more people close to shops, services and workplaces supports local economic activity, while better walking and cycling connections improve health outcomes by encouraging active transport. Building up our cities makes them more sustainable, more prosperous and healthier places to live.
Recommendations
By prioritising building denser, more efficient and more liveable urban environments, the Government can lock in structural emissions reductions, improve resilience to extreme weather, and create healthier, more connected communities. To realise this opportunity, we recommend that the review and any subsequent amendments to the Act:
Prioritise gross emission reductions.
Embed a stronger focus on cities and densification as key levers for both emissions reduction and climate adaptation.
Ensure councils and the State Government account for the increased emissions and adaptation costs of urban sprawl when making planning decisions.
