South Australian councils are invited to accelerate their net zero efforts through a new program. 

A new South Australian initiative to support councils to accelerate their net zero emissions efforts and support the state’s emissions reduction targets has been launched.

The Local Government Net Zero Accelerate Program is designed to provide an opportunity for councils to access support and help them better identify and report their emissions profiles, taking action on key areas for emissions reduction, and establishing an emissions reduction strategy.

The program is supported by a $120,000 grant from the Department for Environment and Water and is the first of its kind in the state.

Expressions of interest are now open to both metropolitan and regional councils. Priority will be given to those councils requiring the basic essentials in net zero emission planning.

Successful councils will be provided with information and support on how to build their greenhouse gas emissions profile and baseline for measuring, opportunities for emission reduction in council operations, setting targets and building pathways for emission reduction, and principles in developing a net-zero strategy.

With the state government targets of net zero emissions by 2050 - and at least a 50 percent reduction by 2030 - this project has the potential to fast-track any councils that are yet to establish emission baselines.

Lessons generated from the program will also help to establish a standard operating guideline which other councils can use for implementing an emissions reduction strategy, providing greater consistency across the local government sector.

Councils can register their expression of interest by 11 August 2023 through the Local Government Association.