Topics > Climate Change

Government action on climate change

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change are important focuses for the Government of South Australia.

In May 2022, South Australia declared a climate emergency and committed to restoring a safe climate by transforming the economy to net zero emissions.

South Australia has targets to:

  • reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% by 2030
  • achieve net zero emissions by 2050
  • achieve 100% net renewable electricity generation by 2027.

The government is delivering a range of actions to progress towards these targets and strengthen South Australia’s climate change adaptation response. 

South Australia’s Net Zero Strategy

South Australia’s Net Zero Strategy will guide the state’s transition to a net zero emissions future. The strategy outlines the government's objectives, policy priorities and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the economy while creating new jobs, developing new industries, supporting wellbeing, and enabling decarbonisation beyond our borders.

Climate Ready Government

To lead by example in reducing South Australia’s emissions, the government’s Climate Ready Government initiative outlines how the South Australian public sector will manage climate related risks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its operations.

Climate Ready Government has 2 key components.

  1. Climate risk management requirements that outlines steps for South Australian public sector agencies to take to assess, manage and report climate-related risks and opportunities to for public assets, services and operations.
  2. A Net Zero Emissions for Government Operations Program that outlines the government’s approach to reduce emissions from government operations.

Resilience and Adaptation Actions

South Australian Government Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation Actions outlines a range of actions to support efforts across all levels of government, business and the community to better prepare for, manage and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The South Australian Government is working with industries, businesses, communities, local government and the Australian Government to implement these actions and encourage action beyond the role of government.

South Australian Government Climate Change Actions 2020-2025 Progress Report

This progress report highlights a range of achievements in climate action over the last five years, that have been guided by 70 actions outlined in the now-retired South Australian Government Climate Change Actions and South Australia Responding to Climate Change documents.

Climate Change Legislation

The Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007 (the Act) provides a legislative foundation for addressing climate change in South Australia. The Act establishes greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and reporting requirements, the Premier’s Climate Change Council as an independent advisory body, and a framework for policies, plans, programs and other initiatives to address climate change.

The Act:

  • sets five-yearly emissions reduction targets for 2035, 2040 and 2045
  • requires the preparation of a state-wide emissions reduction plan and a state-wide climate risk assessment, to be reviewed every five years
  • enables the Premier to nominate a public sector entity to prepare a plan for an entity or sector relating to climate change mitigation, adaptation, or both
  • requires public sector agencies to take action and report, including through their annual reports, on how climate-related risks are being addressed and how greenhouse gas emissions are being reduced in government operations and activities.

To support agencies in meeting these requirements, the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water has issued the Climate Change Annual Reporting Guidelines for South Australian Government Agencies.

Premier’s Climate Change Council

The Premier’s Climate Change Council, an independent advisory body to the South Australian Government, has a role in monitoring and reviewing government climate change action.

Greenhouse gas emissions reporting

South Australia's progress to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions is measured and publicly reported using data produced by the Australian Government’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. For more information visit South Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reporting.

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Keep up-to-date on climate change action

Keep up to date on South Australian Government actions to help to build a strong, climate ready economy, further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support adaptation to a changing climate.

Acknowledgement of Country

Acknowledgement of Country

The state government acknowledges Aboriginal people as the First Peoples and Nations of the lands and waters we live and work upon and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge and respect the deep spiritual connection and the relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to Country.

We work in partnership with the First Peoples of South Australia and support their Nations to take a leading role in caring for their Country.