The Committee for Adelaide is calling for bold, coordinated action to accelerate South Australia’s pathway to Net Zero, urging all political parties to prioritise climate resilience, renewable energy and circular economy commitments at the 2026 State Election.

While Adelaide continues to be recognised globally for its sustainability leadership, boasting a 70% renewable energy share and one of the world’s lowest propensities for natural disasters, members have voiced growing concern about the state’s readiness for the climate challenges ahead.

As part of our 2026 State Election Priorities, the Committee is advocating for the following climate change actions to be adopted in the lead up to and beyond the March election:

• Invest in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies for South Australia’s highest climate risks to reduce future recovery costs and disruption.
• Continue to advocate and work closely with the Federal Government for more proactive intervention and resilience in the National Electricity Market regarding renewable generation to ensure energy affordability, reliability and security.
• Establish integrated state planning and oversight of electrical network infrastructure to enable large-scale electrification of transport, housing, business, and industry.
• Establish a Net Zero & Climate Change Adaptation Fund that incentivises and supports SMEs via grants to reduce emissions and implement climate change adaptation measures within businesses, with a preference for local procurement wherever possible.
• Fund SA ZERO to deliver a multi-year ‘SA ZERO SME Accelerator Academy’ to support SMEs to plan, act and accelerate zero carbon and zero waste pathways.
• Support private investment in the circular economy by increasing remanufacturing and repurposing opportunities in the State.
• In the event Adelaide wins the bid to host COP31, commit to a major legacy action that ensures Adelaide is well positioned to accelerate decarbonisation targets and positions South Australia as a global case study in the renewable transition.
• Commit to increasing tree canopy, greening and biodiversity targets by 30% by 2030 and ensure open space is retained and protected while increasing housing density.

The above climate change calls also align with several ‘Infrastructure’ requests:

• Implement the State Transport Strategy, with funding beyond election cycles, to deliver a more integrated, efficient and sustainable multimodal transport system, in line with RAA’s recommendations, including cheaper and more flexible public transport fares, improved reliability and frequency of the bus network, accelerating the transition to electric buses with smart charging infrastructure at depots, investing in Park’n’Ride facilities near public transport routes and expanding the capacity of the Adelaide Railway Station and passenger rail network.
• Improve active transport safety and connectivity across Greater Adelaide, including committing to a State Active Transport Strategy backed with a $10 million ongoing annual investment in active transport infrastructure and education campaign to encourage uptake.
• Position Adelaide to be Australia’s leader in EVs by increasing investment and deployment of EV infrastructure and charging stations across South Australia and incentivising electric and hybrid vehicle take-up. This should include funding kerbside charging trials in infill development areas, an EV charging infrastructure grants program for SMEs and local governments in key areas, supporting bi-directional charging technologies such as Vehicle-to-Grid and Vehicle-to-Home integration, streamlining regulations and adopting necessary Building Code changes.

Through a series of listening forums, Committee for Adelaide members raised significant concern over climate change, biodiversity loss, the current algae bloom outbreak and environmental degradation driven by unsustainable development, a lack of long-term planning, inadequate regulation and a throwaway consumer culture.

The Committee’s 2025 Benchmarking Adelaide Report points to Adelaide’s renewable energy credentials and high levels of green space as contributing to its recognition as one of the most sustainable destinations in the world. Adelaide’s carbon emissions have also declined over the last 20 years and have fallen more quickly than many cities globally. However, the pace of emissions reduction since 2015 has been just under half the rate and Adelaide still emits more total greenhouse gases per person than most peer cities, trailing behind places like Auckland and Bordeaux.

With global warming currently at 1.2°C, the impacts of climate change are already being felt in Adelaide including rising temperatures, increased frequency of hot days, heightened fire danger conditions, changing rainfall patterns and rising sea levels. Projections indicate that these changes will persist in the coming decades, necessitating effective planning, preparedness and adaptation.

“Adelaide has made incredible progress in the energy transition, but the next decade will be decisive, said Raymond Spencer, Chair of the Committee for Adelaide. We must move beyond ambition to coordinated, system-wide action that embeds resilience, supports our businesses, and safeguards the wellbeing of future generations.”

“Climate change is not a future issue, it’s here now,” said Sam Dighton, CEO of the Committee for Adelaide. We have an opportunity to lead globally by pairing innovation with inclusion, ensuring South Australia’s transition is fair, affordable and backed by smart investment in adaptation and resilience. South Australia’s unique advantages, including its renewable energy capability, strong sustainability credentials and engaged business community, place it in an ideal position to lead Australia’s transition to a clean, circular, and climate-resilient economy. We could be the first state to go completely electrical vehicle, and we could completely overhaul our public systems to be clean and green, complemented with an active transport network that encourages walking and cycling, over cars and SUVs. This vision is achievable, but it will not happen on its own. Government must intervene with courage, long-term policy and bipartisan commitment beyond election cycles. Investment and strong leadership, not wishful thinking, will decide our future.”

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Click here for the Committee for Adelaide’s 2026 State Election Priorities.

Click here for the 2025 Benchmarking Adelaide Report.