NSW Reports
This page provides key research and policy reports and publications relating to climate change in NSW.
Projected Changes in Climatological Forcing for Coastal Erosion in NSW
This study aimed to investigate how the variables responsible for coastal erosion may change as a result of climate change due to the enhanced greenhouse effect for 2030 and 2070 planning horizons. The study also analysed two coastal systems, the Clyde River/Batemans Bay system on the NSW south coast and the Wooli Wooli River system on the NSW north coast. Read the study: Projected Changes in Climatological Forcing for Coastal Erosion in NSW (PDF 833kb), Climate Change Projections for the Wooli Wooli Estuary and Batemans Bay (PDF 1.1mb).
Climate Change Impacts on Fire Weather in South-east Australia
The NSW government, in partnership with the Commonwealth, Victorian, Tasmanian and ACT Governments, commissioned the CSIRO to undertake a study investigating the effect of climate change on grass and forest fire danger indexes in south-eastern Australia, an area projected to become hotter and drier under climate change. Read the study: Climate Change Impacts on Fire Weather in South-east Australia (PDF 2.3mb).
Regional climate change impacts
Business and the community need consistent, high quality information, data and tools to plan for climate change. The NSW Government and the University of NSW have been developing climate change forecasts for the NSW State Plan regions. The Government is assessing the projected impacts of these changes on a regional basis across NSW.
A summary of the climate change impacts for each of the State Plan regions is available for download in pdf format:
The NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, in collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology, Emergency Management NSW, and the University of Wollongong, has developed information of the likely impacts of climate change on fire and weather related natural hazards. The Impacts of Climate Change on Natural Hazards Profiles describe:
The current exposure of each region to eight natural hazards (fire, wind, lightning, hail, flash flooding, riverine flooding, heatwaves, and coastal erosion and inundation where regionally applicable); and
- Projections of future changes to these natural hazards due to climate change.
Profiles for each of the NSW State Plan regions and a summary of the likely impacts for NSW are available for download in pdf format:
- Statewide Overview
- Hunter Region
- Illawarra Region
- North Coast Region
- New England/North West Region
- Riverina Murray Region
- Western Region
- South East Region
- Sydney/Central Coast Region
Other reports
NSW Government Response to IPART review of the State's climate change mitigation measures
The NSW Government supports the majority of IPART's recommendations, which aim to ensure State programs don't overlap with the Commonwealth Government's planned Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The NSW Government is proud of its record on climate change and will continue to help households and businesses play their role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a low carbon future.
Cost Curve for NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Report - November 2004
There are significant emission reduction opportunities available at a low cost. An emission abatement cost-curve was developed for NSW in order to indicate abatement potential in NSW over the next 10 years and to identify least-cost emission abatement options. Read the report: Cost Curve for NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Report - November 2004 (PDF 203kb).
Disclaimer: This report was prepared by NEXT Energy Pty Ltd to assist the NSW Greenhouse Office in the development of the NSW Greenhouse Plan. Development of the cost-curve necessarily required a wide range of assumptions and as such is indicative only. It is also important to note that each circle on the cost-curve represents a technological option, not a particular policy measure.
NSW Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation Framework
The NSW Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation Framework outlines six key areas for action by agencies:
- share knowledge about biodiversity and climate change and raise awareness of adaptation actions
- research and monitor impacts of, and adaptation to, climate change
- incorporate adaptation strategies that deal with the impacts of climate change on biodiversity into their policy and operations
- provide adaptation planning methods and tools to deal with climate change impacts on biodiversity
- minimise the impacts of climate change on key ecosystems and species
- minimise the increased threat of invasive species on native species that comes with climate change.
Read the report: NSW Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation Framework (PDF 1.2mb)
NSW Government Statement on Innovation - 2006
The Government sees this innovation strategy as a key part of its commitment to support economic growth in NSW. The core underlying principles are:
That the efforts of government to support and build innovation should be focused on those industries that are most likely to produce benefits for the broader economy, and where innovation will be boosted by the Government's support
That policies and support to these sectors should be based on an analytical understanding of the actual innovation processes specific to these sectors in the NSW economy
That the Government's role in supporting innovation should be focused on complementing, not replacing the market.
Read the statement: NSW Government Statement on Innovation - 2006 (PDF 783kb).
New South Wales Renewable Energy Target (NRET) - Explanatory Paper. November 2006
This Explanatory Paper describes the proposed design, implementation and administration of a mandatory NSW Renewable Energy Target. Read the paper: New South Wales Renewable Energy Target (NRET) - Explanatory Paper. November 2006 (PDF 176kb).
Public Lighting Code
Public lighting is an important contributor to a safe, secure and attractive visual environment for pedestrian and vehicular traffic during times of inadequate natural light. A large majority of NSW Public Lighting Assets are owned and maintained by licensed electricity distributors. Local councils are the primary customers of public lighting services provided by distributors. The NSW Public Lighting Code is designed to help clarify the relationship between Public Lighting Service Providers and Public Lighting Customers. Read the code: Public Lighting Code (PDF 140kb).
NSW Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2007
The National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2007, provides estimates of NSW’s greenhouse gas emissions based on the latest available data and the accounting rules that apply for the Kyoto Protocol. The NSW Greenhouse Gas Inventory fact sheet summarises the latest figures for NSW.
Page last updated: 08 March 2011
