Our climate change response
The EPA has a strong role in supporting South Australia’s response to climate change.
In early 2024, climate change related amendments to the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act) came into effect. The EPA will be continuing to enhance its regulatory framework to provide greater clarity on how climate change will be embedded into regulatory expectations and decisions. A key element to this work will be the scoping and development of a statutory environment protection policy (EPP) that is specific to climate change.
The climate change context
The increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is changing climate patterns. The increase in greenhouse gases is primarily due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), agriculture, and land clearing. Refer to DCCEEW Understanding Climate Change.
South Australia will become hotter and drier with more frequent and intense extreme weather events. There will be more heat extremes, a decrease in average annual rainfall, more time in drought, a longer fire season, rising sea levels and more intense heavy rainfall events. Refer to Guide to climate projections for risk assessment and planning in South Australia (2022). These changes will have impacts on the environment, communities, business, industries and infrastructure.
In May 2022, the South Australian Government declared a climate emergency. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change are important policy areas. The report Government action on climate change has more information on the coordination of a whole-of-government response to the climate change.
EPA climate change role
In 2023, the EP Act was amended where climate change mitigation and adaptation terminology were added to the Objects of the EP Act (section 10). In addition, climate change knowledge and experience were included as attributes that must be held by the EPA Board (section 14B). Key terms were also defined accordingly in the Interpretation section of the Act (section 3). These amendments came into effect on 1 March 2024. For further information refer to the EPA news article.
Further policy detail is now required to provide a clear, transparent and equitable approach for how the climate related Objects of the EP Act will be secured within the EP Act’s regulatory framework. The most effective way to do this is through the development of an EPP.
Development of an environment protection policy
The EPA will be scoping and developing an EPP focused specifically on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The development of a climate change EPP offers many benefits. It can crosscut across many domains, has the power to drive emission reduction, and support climate adaptation planning.
An EPP is a statutory tool made under Part 5 of the EP Act that may be developed as contemplated by the EP Act or for any purpose directed towards securing the Objects of the Act. An EPP can be developed to apply to development assessment and licensed activities, as well as activities that are not licensed under the EP Act. An EPP can set requirements, standards, goals and guidelines, be taken into account in regulatory decisions and specify requirements or standards that are to be mandatory. The EPPs impose matters for consideration in regulatory decision making by the EPA, along with both non-mandatory and mandatory requirements. Penalties may be applied for non-compliance of mandatory provisions.
The EPA will commence informal engagement with key stakeholders during 2024, with a view to scoping and developing a draft climate change focused EPP during 2025–26 including public consultation.
Other EPA actions
The EPA’s previous Climate Change Role Statement has now been archived.
However key EPA-led actions can still be found in the document, South Australia's Net Zero Strategy and the South Australian Government Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation Actions.
Climate change actions are also reflected in the EPA’s Strategic Directions and Corporate Plan.
