How is climate change affecting Hobart?
Climate change has arrived, and every ton of pollution we cut now will save lives in the future. Climate change is causing more frequent and severe weather and these will only increase as the impacts of climate change intensifies. For the city of Hobart, these impacts will see increased occurrence and intensity of bushfires, flooding, and coastal inundation. As a historically cool climate city, we are now facing more frequent and severe heatwaves impacting our most vulnerable and pushing natural systems past their capacity to adapt and survive.
Amid these challenges there is also an unprecedented opportunity. By embracing innovative solutions, we can transform our communities to be climate ready and better places to live.
What action are you taking to address climate change?
City governments and our communities are on the frontlines of the climate impacts that we’re experiencing. 87 per cent of our community are concerned about climate change and want the city to help them do more. To figure out how we could respond with our community, we hosted the Hobart Climate Assembly to understand our shared priorities and what actions we can put in place. This resulted in the Climate Ready Hobart Strategy and a resounding commitment to a zero emissions Hobart by 2040. Young people are vital to putting in place the solutions we need today, that is why we launched the Youth Climate Action Fund with Bloomberg Philanthropies to deliver youth-led action across our city, and with 99 other cities around the world. Together, we will reduce the risk of climate impacts that we can’t avoid, and we adapt with new technologies and policies to cut the pollution causing the problem.
What are the benefits? Why is it important?
Cities are the most empowered in tackling this crisis because we can make this global challenge real for people – we can help people see they are part of the solutions. When people are part of the solution, we can make our cities cleaner, more efficient, and economically vibrant.
Emma Hoksbergen, a young mother and member of the Hobart Climate Assembly said it best in stating: “It’s said that ‘hope’ is a verb with its sleeves rolled up. While offering a lifeline, it asks for effort, perseverance, commitment. So how can one be hopeful about a future, when the frightening realities of change feature so prominently in climate coverage? Public participation.” We all need to scale up our efforts, whoever we are, and do it urgently and together.