A move by the Liberals which sees its new climate change office sit within Treasury has been slammed by the Greens who say the natural world should not be commercialised.
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The new Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania unit, supported by a $15 million budget allocation, will report to Climate Change minister Peter Gutwein and Energy minister Guy Barnett.
The unit will look at renewable energy, hydrogen, Marinus link and Battery of the Nation projects, "along with climate change adaptation and mitigation".
Greens Safe Climate spokesperson Rosalie Woodruff said the government was treating climate and the associated environmental issues as "assets on the ledger".
She said taking climate issues away from the Department of Premier and Cabinet was not desirable.
"The natural world is not an asset, the natural world is essential for life, it cannot be partitioned off under bean counters as something which is about costs and benefits," Dr Woodruff said.
"The government isn't tackling this in a comprehensive way. If they were serious about the climate crisis they would end native forest logging, we have to end deforestation, the IPCC was crystal cleat about that," she said.
"Tasmania, like the rest of the planet, is in a climate and biodiversity crisis, yet the State Budget fails to tackle that in a comprehensive way."
Premier Peter Gutwein said the new unit would generate jobs in the industry.
"Tasmania is a world leader in climate action, we have a great story to tell, and we are committed to seizing the numerous opportunities it represents."
