NSW is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Most recently these have included the unprecedented cycle of heatwaves, droughts, bushfires, storms and floods. We need to adapt now to protect the things we value most.
Adapting now and preparing for our new climate is essential. By adapting now, we can maximise opportunities, minimise harm and help secure the state's ongoing prosperity.
The NSW Climate Change Adaptation Strategy sets out an ambitious approach to climate change adaptation. The strategy provides a framework that will strengthen and expand action to adapt to climate change now and over the long term. It builds on the comprehensive suite of climate change policies already in place, such as the Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030.
The strategy sets out key decision-making principles and objectives for adaptation, key priorities and a suite of actions, these include:
- Develop robust and trusted metrics and information on climate change risk
- Complete climate change risk and opportunity assessments
- Develop and deliver adaptation actions plans
- Embed climate change adaptation in NSW Government decision-making.
In October 2024, the NSW Government released the NSW Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2025-2029, the first adaptation action plan under the strategy. Climate change adaptation is one of the most significant challenges facing our state and this plan is just one part of the NSW Government’s response. The plan will be reviewed in 2026, which will inform an update, to take advantage of any new information available and help ensure the plan remains effective. Actions in this plan are designed to complement other major government initiatives such as the State Disaster Mitigation Plan.
The first state-wide climate change risk and opportunity assessment is still being developed. Once complete, findings of this assessment will be used to inform the review of the current adaptation action plan in 2026 and future plans.
Measuring progress
The NSW Climate Change Adaptation Strategy describes how the NSW Government will undertake a wide range of adaptation actions which are intended to expand and strengthen the following priorities:
| Priority 1 | Develop robust and trusted metrics and information on climate change risk. |
| Priority 2 | Complete climate change risk and opportunity assessments. |
| Priority 3 | Develop and deliver adaptation action plans. |
| Priority 4 | Embed climate change adaptation in NSW Government decision-making. |
There are 16 actions in the Strategy under the four priorities and four additional actions relating to the delivery of government reports and disclosures and monitoring and evaluation for the Strategy. NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is responsible for leading the delivery and review of the Strategy on behalf of the NSW Government as a whole, details of which are available in the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Framework Executive Summary.
A program logic (below) has been developed for the Strategy. It summarises the Strategy actions, their outputs and outcomes, feedback loops, assumptions and external factors that may impact successful implementation.
