2003-07

First wind farm constructed at Starfish Hill

Energy efficiency program for low-income households

Herbert Girardet’s Creating a Sustainable Adelaide report

Tackling Climate Change Summit in South Australia

Montreal Declaration signed committing to climate change action and target setting

South Australia urges COAG to streamline greenhouse gas and energy reporting

The late Stephen Schneider’s Climate Change —Risks and Opportunities report released

Inaugural Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change appointed

Tackling Climate Change—South Australia’s Greenhouse Strategy 2007– 2020 launched

Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act enacted

Black Balloons awareness raising campaign commences

South Australia founding member of The Climate Group’s States and Regions Alliance

2008

Inaugural Premier’s Climate Change Council (PCCC) established

Solar Feed-in legislation commences

Building Innovation Fund begins four year operation

New water heater energy efficiency installation standards

First Climate Change Sector Agreement established with industry

Container deposit levy increased to 10 cents

2009

Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme commences

Solar panels weighing less than 100 kilograms no longer required to apply for planning or building approval

Plastic bag ban begins in South Australia

Renewables SA established

Water for Good plan released to diversify water supply

New 33% renewable energy generation target by 2020

Lochiel Park green village officially opened

Agreement renewed with Manitoba (Canada) to continue cooperation on climate change

Solar panels announced for new and refurbished government buildings

2010

30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide launched, providing for a low carbon future

Green Hubs – climate change community grants launched in partnership with the Conservation Council of SA

Renewable Energy payroll tax rebate for large wind and solar projects commences in South Australia

Goyder Institute established, including researching the effects of climate change on water supplies

Adopted 6-star energy efficiency rating for new housing in the Building Code of Australia

Commenced target bans to landfill, including white goods, vehicles and aggregated organic material

New target for the greenhouse gas efficiency of government vehicles established

Water efficient taps and showerheads for government projects

2011

Introduced state specific energy efficiency requirements for air-conditioners

Bowden Village sustainable community development approved

First regional water demand and supply statement released incorporating climate change impacts

First regional Climate Change Sector Agreement established

Renewable Energy Plan for South Australia launched

2012

South Australia achieves its Kyoto emissions reduction commitment target

Low Emissions Vehicle Strategy released

Climate Change Adaptation Framework— Prospering in a Changing Climate launched

Works begin on the Sustainable Industries Complex at Tonsley Park redevelopment

Statewide Wind Farm Development Plan Amendment approved

Major upgrades and electrification to Adelaide Metro rail commences

2013

First regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan released

2013 State of the Environment report released, featuring a dedicated chapter to climate change

National Greenhouse 2013 conference held in Adelaide

South Australia’s Climate Change Adaptation Program wins two national awards

2014

South Australia’s Climate Change Vision— Pathways to 2050 released

New 50% renewable energy generation target by 2025 announced

South Australia achieves a 27% reduction of waste to landfill since 2002–2003

Parliament passes legislation to enable solar installation and wind farms on pastoral leased land

National Clean Energy Summit held in Adelaide

2015

Signed International Agreement — Compact of States and Regions

Goyder Institute releases climate change projections for South Australia

Release shared vision with Adelaide City Council to make the City of Adelaide the world’s first carbon neutral city

Tonsley redevelopment awarded 6 star Green Star - Communities certification by the Green Building Council of Australia

Announced a community challenge to spark new ideas to achieve a Carbon Neutral Adelaide

South Australia hosts Executive Secretary of UNFCCC

South Australia’s Climate Change Strategy 2015–2050 released, including SA’s Low Carbon Economy Experts Panel Final Report

Net zero emissions by 2050 target announced

South Australia first jurisdiction in Australia to sign up to the Under2MoU

South Australia wins two United Nations Association of Australia 2015 World Environment Day Awards

South Australia first jurisdiction in Australia to adopt target of zero net emissions by 2050

South Australia’s Low Carbon Investment Plan released

South Australia becomes founding member of RegionsAdapt

Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme commences

Building Upgrade Finance legislation passes through South Australian Parliament

2016

Carbon Neutral Adelaide Action Plan released with City of Adelaide

Climate Adaptation Plans completed for all regions across the state

CDP Cities 2015 Report ranks Adelaide among the top ten cities in the world for its climate change reporting

Adelaide to Zero Carbon Challenge, including Premier’s Low Carbon Entrepreneur’s prize held

Adelaide hosts United Nations Regional 3R Forum in Asia Pacific,

Adelaide hosts National Climate Adaptation Conference

Plans announced to extend city tramline and purchase additional trams

Solar systems supplied and installed on 400 public housing properties

Low emission vehicles in state government fleet to reach 30% over next three years

South Australia’s Premier re-elected as co-chair of The Climate Group —States and Regions Alliance

Inaugural SA Climate Leaders Awards

2017

Build commences on world’s biggest lithium-ion battery with Neoen and Tesla – 3 times more powerful than any other system on Earth

Carbon Neutral Adelaide Partner Program launched with over 75 Founding Partners

Climate-KIC Australia established – South Australia Founding Partner

$150 million renewable technology fund established

European Union recognises Adelaide for leadership on sustainable development through World Cities program

South Australia’s recycling hits record high, with over 81% of waste diverted from landfill

H1

A Hydrogen Roadmap for South Australia released to accelerate the state’s clean energy transition

$8 million committed to construct hydrogen production facility, refuelling station and a trial involving at least six hydrogen- fuelled buses

South Australia profiled at Under2 Clean Energy Forum in Beijing

Announcement that a 150MW solar thermal plant – the biggest of its kind in the world – will be built in Port Augusta

Building Upgrade Finance comes into operation in South Australia

$1 million in funding to stimulate local carbon sequestration industry

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MILESTONES

2001Mandatory Renewable Energy Target commences

2007National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act gains assent

2008Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper released

Garnaut Climate Change Review final report released

Kyoto Protocol signed by Australia

2009National Strategy on Energy Efficiency released

Renewable Energy Target (RET) expanded to generate at least 20% of national grid electricity by 2020

2011Garnaut Review Update released

2012National Carbon Pricing Mechanism commences

Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) commences operation

Productivity Commission releases Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation report

Greenhouse & Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Act commences

2013Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) commences operation

Regional Natural Resource Management Planning for Climate Change Program commences

2014National Carbon Pricing Mechanism is repealed

Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) introduced

2015Climate Change Authority releases Special Review—Australia’s Future Emissions Reduction Targets report

ERF commences with first auction

Australia’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) submitted to reduce emissions by 26–28% below 2005 levels by 2030

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 21st Conference of Parties in Paris—Universal Agreement on Climate Change

2016 The Paris Agreement comes into force

UNFCCC 22nd Conference of the Parties in Marrakech, Morocco

Establishment and inaugural meeting of the Climate Action Roundtable of Australian States and Territories

2017Australian Government’s National Climate Change Policy Review commenced

Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market (Finkel Review)

CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIONSOUTH AUSTRALIA

FUTURE DIRECTIONSOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australia is a place where people and business thrive. We are open for investment in a low carbon future.

We are prioritising investment in low carbon industries and renewable electricity generation and storage. We are transitioning to renewable and clean technologies, and we are aiming for our state to have net zero emissions by 2050.

Our $550 million energy plan is taking charge of our energy future, delivering reliable, affordable and clean power for South Australians, and setting an example for the world.

• We are building a 150MW solar thermal plant – the biggest of its kind in the world – in Port Augusta to supply all of the Government’s power needs, with the project set to boost market competition and put downward pressure on power prices.

• We have established a $150 million fund to support projects that make renewable energy available to power the state when it is needed

• The first project is building the world’s biggest lithium-ion battery with Neoen and Tesla— beginning the transformation of South Australia’s energy grid to the next generation of renewable energy storage technologies. Other projects may involve large-scale bioenergy, hydrogen and bulk storage.

• We have released a Hydrogen Roadmap for South Australia that sets out clear pathways to capitalise on our State’s competitive advantages and hasten South Australia’s transition to being a clean, safe and sustainable producer, consumer and exporter of hydrogen.

We’re aspiring to make Adelaide the world’s first carbon neutral city. To do this, we need to rapidly reduce Adelaide’s carbon emissions - and we are working in partnership with the City, community and business to achieve this. We are making Adelaide an even better place to work and live—building on our reputation of a city that is green, smart, creative and liveable.

INTERNATIONAL

The Paris Agreement, signed by over 190 countries and already ratified by over 130 signifies the start of an unstoppable global shift to low carbon economic development.

South Australia’s Premier Jay Weatherill is a co-chair of the States and Regions Alliance, which continues to accelerate the global transition to a low carbon economy.

South Australia is a member of the Under2 Coalition, which provides a global forum for sub-national governments to work together towards the shared goal of keeping global temperature increase below 2 degrees. They set the tone for bold climate leadership and provide an effective global partnership model for parties to the UNFCCC. Through the Under2 MoU, sub-national governments have committed to pursuing emission reductions consistent with a trajectory of 80 to 95 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050 and/or achieving a per capita annual emission goal of less than 2 metric tons by 2050.

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OUR LOW CARBON FUTURERecognising that tackling climate change is both an environmental imperative and an economic opportunity, the South Australian Government has been working for over a decade to position the state to take advantage of the transition to a low-carbon economy.

South Australia has been leading Australia on climate change policy for over a decade. The state has been first in a

number of areas, from enacting climate change legislation to adopting a zero net emissions ambition for 2050.

The state is sending a clear signal to businesses around the world: if you want to innovate, if you want to showcase low carbon technologies necessary to halt global warming—come to South Australia.

South Australia has already shown that it is possible to decouple economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions, and continues to pursue initiatives that will help the nation and the world transition to a low-carbon economy.

Continuing to lead this transition will position South Australia at the forefront of research and innovation, attracting investment and creating jobs for the future.

LowCarbonFutureSAclimatechange.sa.gov.au SADEWNR

With the exception of the Piping Shrike emblem, and other material or devices protected by a trademark and subject to review by the Government of South Australia at all times, the content of this document is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence. All other rights are reserved. © Crown in right of the State of South Australia Oct 2017 | FIS 94982

“Tackling climate change creates great opportunities for those of us taking early action. More and more states and regions, like South Australia, are taking strong action to simultaneously tackle climate change, attract investment and create jobs.

World leaders have a responsibility to put the world, and the global economy, on track for a low carbon future.”

Jay WeatherillPremier of South Australia

“You’re at 40% renewable energy now, on the way to 50 and possibly 60. South Australians should be boasting to the world about what you are doing here. I certainly intend to.”

Dr David SuzukiAcademic and environmental activist

“South Australia is a global leader in the transition to clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy and storage technology and should be commended.”

Tim Flannery Scientist, explorer and conservationist

“I think it’s extremely important and it’s extremely impressive that South Australia is now leading the world.”

Al Gore Former US Vice-President

“I’m pretty darn impressed with South Australia willing to do a project of this magnitude that is beyond anything else in the world.

I do see this as something that the world will look at as an example.”

Elon MuskCEO of Tesla