Climate change strategy for South Australia

South Australia's Climate Change Strategy

A new Climate Change Strategy for South Australia was released by Premier Jay Weatherill and Minister for Climate Change Ian Hunter on 29 November 2015. South Australia’s Climate Change Strategy 2015 - 2050 – Towards a low carbon economy (PDF, 3MB) sets a framework for significantly reducing emissions in South Australia while maximising economic opportunities. For more information, check out the climate change website: http://www.climatechange.sa.gov.au.

Carbon Neutral Adelaide – A shared vision for the world’s first carbon neutral city

The Government of South Australia and Adelaide City Council have formed a globally unique partnership to establish Adelaide as the world’s first carbon neutral city. The partnership will achieve carbon neutrality whilst driving economic and employment opportunities. Importantly, Adelaide will be transformed into a vibrant, sustainable 21st century city and will become a global test bed for innovative technologies. Carbon Neutral Adelaide: A shared vision for the world’s first carbon neutral city (PDF, 1.7MB) outlines the following six areas of focus for implementation:

1. Building partnerships and encourage community action
2. Investing in energy efficiency and renewables in the city
3. Transforming the way we travel
4. Reducing emissions from waste
5. Investing in large scale renewables across the state
6. Identifying offset opportunities to reduce emissions and deliver economic return.

The shared vision has been informed by analysis undertaken by Pitt&Sherry. View the Carbon Neutral Adelaide Foundation Report (PDF, 3MB).

Low carbon investment plan

This plan (PDF, 4.5MB) sets out how we aim to achieve an investment target of $10 billion by 2025 by drawing on examples of initiatives and projects where the South Australian Government has had a role. This plan sets out 14 case studies under four key strategies that will help us to achieve our target.

SA low carbon economy experts panel

The SA Government appointed a panel of experts to provide independent advice about climate change targets and objectives for the State to 2050. The Panel was also asked to recommend key strategies to meet these objectives and ensure that the SA economy is best placed to adjust to a carbon constrained future. The Panel’s final report (PDF, 2MB) was released on 25 November 2015. The Panel found that it is feasible for South Australia to achieve a target of net zero emissions by 2050 and that a commitment to this target will position South Australia well in a low carbon world.

Community Consultation Summary Report

DEWNR undertook state-wide engagement over a six-week period, using a mix of online and offline techniques. The community were invited to get involved by attending an event, taking part in an online discussion or sending a written submission during the consultation period. During the consultation period over 300 people attended workshops, 46 people contributed to online discussions and more than 200 written submissions were received. Download the report here (PDF, 1MB).

Submissions

Written submissions were invited as part of this consultation. View the submissions here.

Climate Change Workshops

Public regional and metropolitan workshops

Workshops have been held across South Australia, with clearly defined objectives and outcomes.

Objective of workshops - To seek input from industry, government and the community in the development of the Climate Change Strategy and Carbon Neutral Adelaide action plan.

Desired outcomes

• Increased stakeholder awareness of the objectives and process for developing the new Climate Change Strategy
• Stakeholder input/views provided regarding what should be included in the strategy, including input on innovative solutions for climate action, state-wide priorities for action in relation to adaptation, an industry-led low carbon transition and government leadership

Click on the links below to read the notes taken at each of the workshops.

• Burra - 22 October (PDF, 462 KB)
• Mount Gambier - 16 October (PDF, 490 KB)
• Victor Harbor - 12 October (PDF, 407 KB)
• Adelaide - 8 October (PDF, 459 KB)
• Clare - 7 October (PDF, 409 KB)
• Modbury - 29 September (PDF, 445 KB)
• Mount Barker - 30 September (PDF, 444 KB)
• Marion - 23 September (PDF, 464 KB)
• Gawler - 22 September (PDF, 481 KB)
• West Beach - 18 September (PDF, 461KB)
• Port Augusta - 16 September (PDF, 454 KB)
• Port Lincoln - 15 September (PDF, 476 KB)

Adaptation stakeholder workshop

On 11 September 2015, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources hosted a workshop with partners and stakeholders under South Australia’s climate change adaptation framework, including regional adaptation practitioners, government representatives and researchers, to explore options for the next phase of developing and implementing adaptation initiatives in the context of a new climate change strategy.

Objective of workshop - To involve industry, government and the community in exploring options for the next phase of developing and implementing climate change adaptation initiatives.

Desired outcomes

• Provide the opportunity to network with others working in the space of Climate Change adaptation
• Update participants on the development of the new Climate Change Strategy for South Australia, and how this strategy will build on existing adaptation work, and
• Identify priorities for the next stage of Climate Change policy work – with a focus on climate change adaptation.

Click on the link below to read the notes from this workshop.

• Adaptation – 11 September 2015 (PDF, 402 KB)

There were a number of ways you could have your say and help shape South Australia's Climate Change Strategy - check them out below.

1. WORKSHOPS - All the workshops have now been held. For more information click here.

2. ONLINE DISCUSSION - Join the discussion:

• ADAPT: How can government, communities, businesses and individuals work together to prioritise and fund activities that build our resilience to climate change?
• REDUCE: What are the opportunities for South Australia to substantially reduce our emissions?
• INNOVATE: How can South Australia be the innovator in climate change action?
• LEAD: What does it mean to you for South Australia to be a leader in taking action to respond to climate change?
• CARBON NEUTRAL ADELAIDE: What actions could government, industry and the community take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the City of Adelaide and create economic opportunities for the State?

3. SUBMISSIONS - Submissions were provided directly to the project team and can be found here. For general enquiries, email climatechange@sa.gov.au

Consultation papers

There are several consultation papers under consideration as part of this engagement. You can read them by clicking below:

Overview consultation paper (PDF, 1.6MB)
Lead consultation paper (PDF, 703KB)
Reduce consultation paper (PDF, 806KB)
Adapt consultation paper (PDF, 1.3MB)
Innovate consultation paper (PDF, 850KB)
Carbon Neutral Adelaide (PDF, 1.1MB)
Low Carbon Investment Plan - Strategy Paper (PDF, 1.1MB)

Submissions close on Sunday 18 October.