South Australia has exceeded its 2030 net zero target, with new greenhouse gas emissions data revealing a 57 per cent reduction in the state’s net emissions compared with 2005 levels.

Annual data just released in the latest Australian Government State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows South Australia’s net emissions dropped from 26,474 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) in 2012-13 to 15,821 kilotonnes in 2021-22.

It means South Australia has surpassed its commitment to reduce net emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030.

The Malinauskas Government will now bring forward the state’s renewable energy target by three years as we work to decarbonise the economy.

Under the new target, electricity generation would be sourced from net 100 per cent renewables by 2027.

A major factor in emissions reduction has been South Australia’s increased renewable energy generation, with more than 70 per cent of the state’s electricity now generated by renewable sources.

Other factors in include:

• Increased rain which has improved soils and soil conversion of carbon through higher crop yields and grassland grazing pastures
• Improved growth in forests, tree canopy and parks from additional rainfall
• Changes in land use and agricultural land practices, including less land clearing, changes in timber plantation planting and harvesting, increased vegetation following flooding and bushfires, particularly in the eastern states.

The latest data follows the Australian Government undertaking a revision of data methodology and improved modelling to estimate state and territory emissions.

Quotes

Attributable to Susan Close

South Australia is a global leader in renewable energy and these figures are further proof we are winning the race to reduce carbon.

These reductions follow years of hard work by our state to harness the power of wind and solar energy which has had the added benefit of creating jobs and boosting regional economies.

However, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels, and we will now set an even more ambitious target that will entrench South Australia as a world leader in renewables.