Our climate actions
Taking action on climate change has been a priority for the City of Hobart for decades now.
Climate action in Hobart began in 1999 with the decision to recognise climate change as a real and pressing threat. Since then, we have acted consistently, setting and achieving its climate action targets.
Below are some of the highlights of our climate actions.
1995 – Decision to invest funds ethically.
1999 – Recognised climate change.
1999 – Joined Cities for Climate Protection, one of the first global city networks for climate action.
2000 – Started tracking emissions.
2001 – Set first organisational emissions target to achieve a 70 per cent reduction on 2000 levels by 2010.
2003 – Commenced landfill gas flaring.
2006 – Started power generation from landfill gas.
2007 – Introduced energy rate rebates for households.
2009 – First Hobart Climate Strategy set a vision for a climate aware and resilient community.
2010 – Achieved first emissions targets of 75 per cent reduction on 2000 levels.
2010 – Launched the Urban Sustainability Grants providing grants to community for sustainable actions.
2015 – Committed to zero waste to landfill by 2030.
2016 – Joined the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.
2017 – Resolved to change the investment policy to divest from financial institutions who support the fossil fuel industry.
2017 – Committed to increase the canopy cover across Hobart's urban areas to 40 per cent by 2046.
2019 – Declared a Climate & Biodiversity Emergency.
2019 – Launched the Sustainable Hobart Action Plan toward a zero emissions Hobart.
2020 – Achieved emissions reduction of 20 per cent, exceeding 17 per cent target on 2010 levels; reduced energy use by 40 per cent, exceeding our 35 per cent target.
2020 – Installed first fast-charge electric vehicle charge station.
2020 – Awarded the 2020 Resilient Australia National Local Government Award for the City's suite of May 2018 flood projects, known as Resilient Hobart.
2021 – Introduced Single Use Plastics By-Law.
2024 – Convened Tasmania's first citizens Assembly on climate change.
2024 – Launched the Climate Ready Hobart Strategy 2040 for a zero emissions and climate resilient city.
2024 – Partnered with Bloomberg Philanthropies to launch the Youth Climate Action Fund supporting 29 youth-led teams to lead climate action.
2024 – Recognised as a CDP A List City for climate action, joining just 111 cities globally recognised for climate leadership and transparency.
2025 – Winner of the 2025 Awards for Planning Excellence for the Hobart Climate Assembly by the Planning Institute of Australia.
2025 – Hosted the first Climate Ready Hobart Forum to engage diverse climate leaders in collective action.
2026 – The Climate Ready Hobart community call to action is launched to invite the community to greater action, together.
Recognition
We have received the following awards and recognition for our climate action and leadership.
2025 – National Awards for Planning Excellence
The City of Hobart was awarded the Stakeholder Engagement award from the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). This was awarded for our Hobart Climate Assembly project.
The award recognises initiatives and outcomes in implementing best practice public engagement, that:
- achieves genuine collaborative outcomes
- leads to improved built form, planning processes or social outcomes.
Learn more on the PIA website.
2024 – CDP A List
The City of Hobart was awarded an 'A' score from CDP.
An 'A' score was awarded for demonstrated:
- best practice standards across adaptation and mitigation
- setting ambitious goals and making progress towards achieving those goals
- demonstrating strategic and holistic plans to ensure our actions will reduce the climate impacts and vulnerabilities of people, businesses, and organisations.
Learn more on the CDP website.
2020 – Resilient Australia National Local Government Award
The City of Hobart was the winner of the Resilient Australia National Local Government Award, awarded by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.
We won for our response to the May 2018 floods that did extensive damage. The five response initiatives were collectively known as Resilient Hobart. They included response, recovery, and resilience building initiatives serving individuals, community groups, and the broader community.
Learn more on the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience website.
More information