Emissions reduction

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to slow the rate of climate change.

The Australian Government publishes Australia's National Greenhouse Accounts, which outline Australia's greenhouse gas emissions as a nation, by state, and by industry. OEH provides an overview of NSW emission sources and trends.

Actions that will help tackle climate change in NSW are contained in NSW 2021 - A plan to make NSW number one.

The NSW Government Sustainability Policy (08453SustainabilityPolicy.pdf, 1.7MB) provides an important step for the NSW Government to meet its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2020. As a first step, the Policy sets targets and strategies to improve efficiency in the use of water, energy and transport.

To make significant cuts in emissions cost effectively, we need to implement a mix of actions. Some actions reduce emissions and can save money (see our SavePower website). Other actions may require investment over a longer period, for example those requiring development and uptake of innovative technology.

Many emerging technologies are under development and showing significant promise for delivering large-scale emission reductions. The NSW Government has funded demonstration of innovative technologies through the Renewable Energy Demonstration Program. We anticipate significant technological innovation over a 40 year horizon, arising from global trends towards a low carbon economy and the national effort to reduce emissions.

NSW is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by:

• working with other governments through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG);
• providing financial support through the Climate Change Fund;
• leading by example: The NSW Government Sustainability Policy committed NSW to become carbon neutral by 2020.
• promoting energy efficiency;
• promoting clean and renewable energy;
• promoting low carbon transport;
• promoting low carbon agriculture and carbon sequestration;
• encouraging waste avoidance and resource recovery, and the reduction of emissions from waste disposal and landfill.

Links to international and national policy

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Australian Government targets and actions for greenhouse gas reduction
• Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
• The Garnaut Climate Change Review for the Australian Government

Agriculture

The NSW Government is developing mitigation technologies for agricultural emissions. Substantial research is being undertaken to:

• reduce methane emissions from cattle and sheep by improved breeding and feed efficiency;
• build the stock of carbon in soils by changing grazing patterns, improving ground cover, revegetation, and adding composts and char to soil; and
• maximise carbon sequestration in trees.

The NSW Government has taken steps to facilitate the introduction of these improvements through:

• carbon rights legislation (amendments to the Conveyancing Act 1919 to recognise carbon rights)
• the Native Vegetation Act 2003, which will reduce land clearing
• developing measurement methods to improve the accuracy of emissions estimates
• providing financial incentives for carbon sequestration under the NSW Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme.