Summary of climate change action

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in NSW

• Understand NSW emissions sources and trends
• Provide financial support through the Climate Change Fund
• Promote energy efficiency
• Promote clean and renewable energy
• Promote low carbon transport
• Promote low carbon agriculture and carbon sequestration
• Encourage waste avoidance and resource recovery, and reduce emissions from waste disposal and landfill

Prepare NSW for unavoidable changes in our climate

The 'NSW Climate Impact Profile: The impacts of climate change on the biophysical environment of New South Wales' is the first integrated assessment of the biophysical changes projected for the state as a result of climate change. The Profile outlines some of the risks NSW faces. This is helping decision makers develop their planning and response strategies.

Despite efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some level of climate change is now inevitable. NSW climate change adaptation programs aim to build the resilience of the State's natural environment, economy and communities by:

• Helping communities adapt (part of this work includes vulnerability assessments of regional communities);
• Incorporating climate change risks into infrastructure planning and management;
• Preparing Sydney for climate change impacts;
• Protecting ecosystems and natural resources; and
• Managing water resources.

More information on these programs is available on our Adapting to Climate Change web page.

Build a prosperous low-carbon economy

• The NSW Business Sector Growth Plan builds on our existing strengths, competitive advantage and emerging opportunities – including investigation of NSW specific Business Opportunities in a Low Carbon Economy.
• The Sydney Carbon Market Taskforce advises the NSW Government on making Sydney the carbon market hub of the Asia Pacific region.
• The NSW Government has a number of skills development initiatives to ensure that the workforce has the expertise to support the transition to a lower carbon economy, and that businesses and individuals are well-positioned to take up new opportunities as they emerge.
• A Business Guide to the Low Carbon Economy: NSW has been prepared to provide businesses with practical steps to get on top of measuring and curbing greenhouse gas emissions from their operations.

Plans

NSW 2021 - A plan to make NSW number one sets the Government’s agenda for change in NSW.

It provides the direction for the public sector for the next ten years. The goals, targets and actions in this plan will be integrated into the machinery of government, setting the priorities for funding, guiding decisions and focusing the day to day work of the public sector.

We will assist local government, business and the community to build resilience to future extreme events and hazards by helping them to understand and minimise the impacts of climate change. Actions to deliver on this target include:

• Complete fine scale climate change projections for NSW and make available to local councils and the public by 2014
• Work with government agencies and universities to deliver improved climate projections for NSW and the ACT.

Other NSW 2021 goals and targets that will help tackle climate change include:

• 20% renewable energy by 2020

• Assist business and households to realise annual energy savings of 16,000 GWh by 2020 compared to ‘business as usual’ trends

• Support 220,000 low income households to reduce energy use by up to 20% by June 2014
• Increase the share of commuter trips made by public transport (including increasing the proportion of total journeys to work by public transport in the Sydney Metropolitan Region to 28% by 2016)
• Targets to increase walking and cycling
• Planning policy to encourage job growth in centres close to where people live and to provide access by public transport

The NSW Government Sustainability Policy sets targets and strategies to improve the Government’s efficiency in use of water, energy and transport. The Policy provides an important step for the NSW Government to meet its commitment of becoming carbon neutral by 2020.

For more information, visit OEH’s ‘Key NSW climate change initiatives’ web page.

Other resources

• Who Cares about the Environment? is social research that measures the environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of the people of NSW through surveys and focus groups
• Sustaining our Environment describes DECCW’s environmental sustainability programs
• Let’s Clear the Air is a website for initiatives and partnerships to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in NSW
• Save Power - What can you do in your world? provides information about how using electricity impacts our environment and what can be done to save power and lower power bills
• Living sustainably: Our environment - it's a living thing is the NSW Government’s overarching environmental education program. This state-wide initiative motivates and encourages people to adopt environmentally sustainable lifestyles
• The Water For Life Metropolitan Water Plan is designed to ensure sufficient water for people and the environment – with one not more important than the other
• The Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036 released in December 2010 includes a chapter on Climate Change outlining the NSW Government’s priorities and strategies for tackling climate change in Sydney.
• Climate change and Sydney's water balance: The Sydney Water Balance Project is the only research to date that has tried to determine the potential impacts of climate change on greater Sydney’s water supply and demand.