How small nations and regions are leading global climate solutions

Tasmania is an island off the southeastern coast of Australia. It is Australia’s smallest state – small enough that it is sometimes forgotten from maps of the country. But it is only “small” by Australian standards… Tasmania is actually 3 times larger than Wales with a population of just over half a million people (less than 20% of the population of Wales).

I was born in Tasmania - I grew up here and I live and work here. Tasmanian Aboriginal people, the original and ongoing custodians of Lutruwita Tasmania, have been here for over 40,000 years.

Tasmania is also a climate change hotspot. The rate of ocean warming off our east coast is 3-4 times more than the global average. In recent years we have experienced severe marine heatwaves, large bushfires, drought and floods. Our giant kelp forests, where I learnt to scuba dive and developed my passion for the ocean, have been reduced to 5% of their original area because of climate change.

As a mum of young kids I am worried about what Tasmania - and the world - will look like for them and future generations.

But I am also hopeful. Many Tasmanians are acting in response to climate change. Our state is one of very few places in the world to be carbon negative - that is, Tasmania absorbs and stores more carbon than it emits. This is because we mostly use hydroelectric power, and we have some protected forests that trap carbon dioxide.

In May 2025, Tasmania launched the largest fully electric ship in the world - a significant step to reduce shipping emissions of carbon dioxide.

And we also have milk from cows fed with seaweed extracts that dramatically reduce methane emissions (methane being a greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change). But of course, we can’t be complacent, there is still much more that Tasmania can do to play its part in tackling climate action.

In spring this year I had the privilege of spending two months in south Wales - staying with family and working with climate change researchers and others to share ideas about how we deal with, and adapt to, climate change. I’ve been really inspired by how Wales is leading the way with its Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and community-driven projects.

We are all part of the solution for climate change. By learning from each other and sharing stories of success and hope, I think we can build a better, brighter future for our children and beyond.

Feeling inspired?

Find out what we're doing in Wales to help tackle climate change.