South Australia is on track to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050, according to new independent analysis that also points to fresh opportunities to strengthen the state’s renewable energy leadership and low-emissions economy.
A report by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO) confirms the state has already reduced net emissions by 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, based on 2022-23 data. In the electricity sector, renewables supplied 69.7 per cent of South Australia’s net generation in 2023-24, reinforcing the state’s position as one of the world’s most advanced high-renewables power systems.
The findings come alongside the release of South Australia’s first Statewide Climate Change Risk and Opportunity Assessment, prepared by Deloitte, which provides a long-term view of climate risks and economic opportunities across the state out to 2030, 2050 and 2090.
The assessment draws on input from more than 100 organisations spanning government, industry, research and community sectors, and is intended to inform future adaptation planning, infrastructure investment and economic development.
It identifies 11 priority risk areas that will require increased action over the next five years, including water security, agriculture, transport, emergency services, insurance, coastal systems, biodiversity and human health.
According to the assessment, average temperatures in South Australia have already risen by around one degree since 1960. If global emissions remain high, the report projects a further increase of between 1.3 and 2.2 degrees by 2050, with implications for heatwaves, droughts, bushfires and extreme weather events.
At the same time, the assessment highlights significant opportunities for South Australia to further expand its leadership in renewable energy, accelerate the net zero transition, grow its circular economy and develop new low-emissions industries, skills and jobs.
The findings arrive as the state moves to strengthen its climate governance framework. Amendments to the Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act, passed in March, have expanded requirements for government agencies around climate risk assessment, planning and action.
One of the most significant policy commitments is South Australia’s target to achieve 100 per cent net renewable electricity generation by 2027 – brought forward by three years in a move that positions the state at the forefront of global power system decarbonisation.
The climate risk assessment also underlines the importance of South Australia’s new Biodiversity Act, which was implemented after the assessment was completed and is intended to strengthen ecosystem resilience in the face of climate pressures.
Martin Haese, the South Australia Premier’s Climate Change Council Chair, shared that the assessment would play a central role in guiding future decision-making across government, business and the research sector.
“This first statewide climate change assessment will help catalyse action to tackle the challenges we face under a changing climate,” he said.
“While there is much we are already doing, there is much more we will need to do.”
He said the assessment was not only about managing risks, but also about identifying economic opportunities linked to the energy transition and climate-resilient growth.
Lucy Hood, South Australia’s Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, said the state’s climate and energy agenda was increasingly focused on turning decarbonisation into an economic advantage.
“South Australia is a global leader in renewable energy and climate mitigation, and we are determined to meet our ambitious targets,” she said.
The statewide assessment will be reviewed every five years to track progress and emerging risks, with findings to be shared across industry, research organisations and communities.
For the energy sector, the report reinforces South Australia’s role as a testbed for high-renewables power systems, long-duration storage, grid stability technologies and new low-emissions industries.
As Australia’s energy transition accelerates, South Australia’s next phase appears set to be defined not just by how fast it cuts emissions, but by how effectively it builds a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy around its power system transformation.