Tasmania faces unique challenges under climate change. It is likely to become a climate refuge for Australia in a number of contexts - it represents the southernmost refuge for a range of terrestrial and marine species and may become a residential destination for mainland émigrés and industries displaced by significant warming or other climate change related consequences. It has a unique socio-economic profile with a limited mix of industry, a low-density dispersed population. There are also some distinct regional socioeconomic, geographic and climatic differences.

While the focus of the international community and national government has been on policies aimed at reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations in an attempt to avoid dangerous climate change, there is now increasing recognition of the need simultaneously to adapt to the impacts of unavoidable climate change. The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) was established in 2008 to harness Australian research capabilities to support adaptation decision-making. Through the NCCARF program, more than 100 research projects have been funded to support decision makers in climate change adaptation.

This report contributes to the emerging body of adaptation research relating to Tasmania. Undertaken with funding from NCCARF’s synthesis and integrative research program, the report evaluates the current state of adaptation knowledge in Tasmania, based on published and on-going research and applied research findings. The findings seek to inform public and private sector decision-makers, improve awareness of adaptation issues and challenges, and contribute to the uptake of adaptation strategies by stakeholders and sectors most likely to be affected by climate change in Tasmania.

The project methodology was designed to reflect the specific circumstances of adaptation research and practice in Tasmania. In particular, the small number of agencies, organisations and actors active in adaptation presented an opportunity to engage widely and deeply across the adaptation community. In addition to reviewing the published adaptation literature relating to Tasmania, the project was informed by interviews with, and two workshops of, adaptation practitioners, stakeholders and researchers.