South Australia has made a firm commitment to decarbonise its economy and mitigate the effects of climate change, positioning itself as a global leader in sustainability and climate action.
Setting ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50% by 2030, 100% net renewable energy by 2030 and on the pathway to net zero emissions by 2050, the State has a longstanding strategy of integrating renewable energy, embracing technological innovation, and harnessing positive community sentiment to accelerate its climate change goals and ensure long-term sustainability.
These bold commitments are ushering in a ‘green reindustrialisation’ of the economy, attracting new businesses and investors, creating jobs and helping to develop new skills in renewables, green hydrogen production, clean-tech and sustainability, under-pinned by dedicated climate change legislation and a progressed circular economy.
While great progress has been made, the pace and scale of decarbonisation and the circular economy across South Australia needs to be increased even further. This requires collaboration across the economy to overcome barriers, seize opportunities and ensure that all South Australians are well-equipped and actively contribute to the state’s net zero targets.
The SA ZERO initiative, led by the Committee for Adelaide, aims to do just that.
Launched in 2023, SA ZERO is a landmark South Australian collaboration that brings together business, government and academia to help accelerate the state’s journey to zero-carbon and zero-waste.
Members of SA Zero include BHP, the City of Adelaide, CSIRO, Flinders Port Holdings, Flinders University, the University of Adelaide and RAA, each shaping the agenda, focus and outcomes of the Australian-first collaboration, Together, they have a clear goal to increase to the pace and scale of decarbonisation and circularity across the state.
Through regular workshops and events, SA ZERO members share learnings and address common challenges, including formulating and reviewing decarbonisation strategies, identifying solutions, and aligning carbon emissions and waste reduction targets and actions, with state, federal and global objectives.
Lessons and case studies are shared through public events, helping to spread insights and knowledge with the business sector and wider community to help guide and fast-track the transition to a low-carbon economy. At a SA ZERO event held earlier this year, in partnership with RAA, local organisations shared their innovative solutions to decarbonising fleet transport, while a recent workshop with BHP and CSIRO helped members to understand the importance of meaningful and ambitious Climate Transition Action Plans.
Flinders Port Holdings also hosted a cluster workshop, providing a tour of the Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal and a deep-dive into the company’s sustainability journey to-date, moving from baselining emissions to setting science-based targets and funding initiatives under a robust climate-action-plan.
It’s this kind of knowledge-sharing that will help to cut down the decarbonisation divide and assist more businesses to plan, act, monitor and share their decarbonisation journey.
To guide the focus of SA ZERO going forward, the ‘Accelerating to Zero: SA ZERO’s Pathways for Collaboration’ report has been developed, providing a framework for the cluster to catalyse action while also enabling South Australian businesses and organisations, large and small, to take proactive and targeted steps towards net zero.
With contribution from Adelaide-based ESG and energy consulting firm, 2XE, and extensive engagement with SA ZERO members, the report considers the challenges and opportunities ahead and sets out six clear pathways for collaboration to accelerate South Australia’s net zero journey:
- Green Skills & Capacity Building
- Technology, Innovation & Scalability
- Policy Development & Engagement
- Reporting Standards & Requirements
- Access to Financial Resources; and
- Accurate, Timely & Meaningful data
“South Australia has long led the way in sustainability, and this next phase of action can be a real game-changer for the State’s economy. SA Zero members have seen the value that collaboration can bring and are asking the big question ‘what is next?’, says Nick Palousis, 2XE Managing Director.
“2XE is proud to have played its part in shaping SA ZERO’s agenda for collaboration, , and we encourage more South Australian organisations to get involved.”
The pathways are designed to assist South Australian businesses, organisations and community groups to identify meaningful and measurable steps that can be progressed through cooperation, and at the right speed and scale required, to ensure SA meets its net zero goals while embracing new avenues of economic prosperity.
Done right, and with continued ambition and collaboration, South Australia is well positioned to meet its decarbonisation goals and herald in a new era of environmental stewardship and economic prosperity for the state.
Click here to view a copy of the ‘Accelerating to Zero: SA ZERO’s Pathways for Collaboration’ Report.
Click here to find out more about the Committee for Adelaide’s SA ZERO initiative.
Sam Dighton
CEO, Committee for Adelaide
Cover image credit: Tom Overall
