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.

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.
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.

Responding to Climate Change

South Australia – Responding to Climate Change outlines some of the priority actions that the South Australian Government will be focusing on in the near term to build a strong, net zero emissions future and adapt to climate change.

Stronger 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 provides for greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and reporting, establishes the Premier’s Climate Change Council as an independent advisory body, and provides a framework for policies, plans and programs and other initiatives to address climate change.

The Act was amended in 2025 to enshrine the state’s current greenhouse emissions reduction and renewable electricity targets in law and to strengthen requirements around government planning, risk assessment and action on climate change, including:

setting five yearly emissions reduction targets to be set for 2035, 2040 and 2045
preparation of a state-wide emissions reduction plan, and a state-wide climate risk assessment that are reviewed every five years
the ability for the Premier to nominate a public sector entity to prepare a plan for an entity or sector relating to climate change mitigation or adaptation or both
public sector action and reporting on reducing emissions and managing climate risk in government operations and activities.

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.

Find out more:

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.

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Read the latest edition and previous news published in the Climate Action SA e-newsletter
Contact us at climatechange@sa.gov.au