Climate change is expected to impact all NSW sectors and communities. The NSW Government plays an important role in ensuring climate change risks are understood, integrated into decision-making, and addressed. State government agencies must consider how climate change will affect their processes, infrastructure and services.

Achieving net zero emissions by 2050 is a key part of the Paris Climate Agreement, which the NSW Government endorsed under the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework. As a signatory to the agreement, Australia is working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, to keep global temperatures below the projected 2°C increase. Australia has committed to help achieve this goal by transitioning to net zero emissions nationally around 2050. NSW’s contribution, including a goal to halve emissions on 2005 levels by 2030, is guided by the Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020–2030.

Even with global efforts to reduce temperature rise, climate change is expected to have physical impacts. Through the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework, the NSW Government has committed to reducing the risks and damage to public and private assets in NSW arising from climate change.

To help NSW government agencies prepare for these impacts, the NSW Government has also prepared the Climate Risk Ready NSW Guide. The Climate Risk Ready NSW Guide is the key source of information and guidance for state government agencies to prepare for climate change. It provides guidance and practical tools to identify and manage climate risks to state government assets, services and objectives. The guide provides a four-step iterative process for state government agencies to follow:

Step 1 - Establish the context

Step 2 - Identify, analyse and evaluate the risks

Step 3 - Treat the risks

Step 4 - Monitor and review

More information and resources for these actions can be found on the How state governments can adapt page.