NSW seeks input on path to net zero

Feedback to the consultation will inform the commission’s work plan, policy recommendations and key outputs, including its next progress report. The progress report is the primary way the commission provides independent expert advice to NSW government, to chart a clear path to net zero and adapting to a changing climate.

The consultation paper is based on the Net Zero Commission 2024 Annual Report, which assessed emissions reduction progress across six sectors: electricity and energy; transport; agriculture and land; industry and waste; resources; and built environment. It found that NSW will have to accelerate efforts to keep its legislated 2030 and 2035 emissions reductions targets within reach. Under the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023, the NSW government has committed to a 50% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030, and a 70% reduction by 2035.

One of the six sector-specific focus areas in the consultation is the built environment. Although it is smaller than some other sectors, representing 6% of the state’s emissions in 2022, the total CO₂^e produced from on-site emissions has almost doubled since 2005.

Most of this is produced by the use of gas for hot water, heating and cooking, but refrigerants are emerging as an issue for NSW; they are the second largest and fastest growing source of emissions in the built environment. Accordingly, the consultation is seeking input on approaches that NSW could use to eliminate refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) greater than 10 from buildings.

The consultation also seeks input on electrifying heat generation in industrial facilities, which produced about 20% of the state’s emissions in 2022.

The consultation is open until Friday, July 11, 2025.

For more information and to submit comments, visit the Net Zero Commission website.

Image by Athithan Vignakaran on Unsplash

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