New South Wales

Government Structure and Role 

Population: 8.3 million (2023)

GDP: AU$777 million / US$520 million

Geographic area (sq miles/kilometers): 
801,137 km² / 309,320 sq mi

Major economic sectors: Administrative and Support Services, Construction, Financial Services, Health, Education, Information Media and Telecommunications, Professional, Property Services, and Scientific and Technical Services

Government size – number of employees: 521,200

Governments & Jurisdictions: There are 128 local government areas, 33 of which are in the Greater Sydney region (as of January 2023). NSW is one of 8 Australian states and territories.

Governance on Climate Change 

Key laws and strategies

In New South Wales, the government plays an important role in addressing climate change through an approach that comprises mitigation, adaptation, and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023:

  • creates an objective for NSW to be more resilient to a changing climate (the adaptation objective) 

  • enshrines whole-of-government climate action to deliver net zero by 2050 (including interim targets)

  • establishes the Net Zero Commission to independently monitor, review and report on progress in NSW towards the net zero targets and the adaptation objective. 

Adaptation plans and strategies: The NSW Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (2022) sets out the key decision-making principles and objectives for adaptation, key priorities and a suite of actions. These include: 1) Developing robust and trusted metrics and information on climate change risk; 2) Completing climate change risk and opportunity assessments; 3) Developing and delivering adaptation actions plans; 4) Embedding climate change adaptation in NSW Government decision-making. The NSW is currently developing its first Adaptation Action Plan, due to be released in 2024. 

NSW also has a State Disaster Mitigation Plan (2024). This document provides guidance about the mitigation of disasters across NSW. These three policy documents will contribute to NSW achieving the adaptation objective in the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act.

Internal governance structure

The Climate Change and Sustainability Division, within the Energy, Climate Change & Sustainability Group of the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), leads the state’s action on climate change, implementing a range of programs for businesses and households. Within DCCEEW there are about 60 people working to deliver the NSW Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, supported by subject matter experts across other sectors. There are many other teams across the state government which work on climate risk resilience and disaster risk reduction specific to various sectors and assets. Additionally, the NSW Cabinet Office and NSW Treasury (central agencies) are increasingly involved in climate-related policies. 

The Department is subject to the control and direction of the elected Government by Ministers appointed by the Governor of NSW. DCCEEW works with other NSW Government agencies on climate change adaptation work. This includes the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which was established in 2022 to proactively reduce the impact of future disasters across NSW and to help communities recover from them faster. DCCEEW liaises with the Australian government on various national climate change adaptation programs such as the development of the first National Climate Risk Assessment and first National Adaptation Plan.

Recent and Projected Impacts: MCAP Priority Climate Risks

Extreme Heat: Extreme heat events have intensified, heightening health risks and straining infrastructure. In 2023/2024 NSW experienced severe heatwaves throughout the state, including marine heatwaves. In 2024, an extended marine heatwave resulted in the closure of several oyster farms off the coast of southern NSW due to the risk of bacterial infection. Parts of Sydney, the capital of NSW, experience regular extreme events. On 4 January 2020, the outer Sydney suburb of Penrith was declared the hottest place on earth. 

Drought: Drought has inflicted severe water shortages and agricultural losses, particularly impacting rural communities. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth and in NSW’s most recent drought, more than 99% of the state was declared as affected by drought (June 2018). Droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe in future, and the impacts of drought are far-reaching. There are also connections between how drought affects the environment and public health. One example is how drought exacerbates vegetation loss and soil erosion. This can lead to hazardous dust storms and poor air quality. 

Wildfires: Wildfires present significant threats to lives, property, and ecosystems, with bushfire seasons becoming more severe. In 2019-2020 higher than average temperatures and low moisture levels in bushfires following several years of drought, led to devastating fires across much of the state. Intense bushfire weather conditions persisted throughout most of the fire season, resulting in the loss of 26 lives, the destruction of 2,448 homes, and the burning of 5.5 million hectares (ha) of land. The impact on NSW communities, farmers, local businesses, wildlife, and bushland was unprecedented. Additionally, the 2019-20 bushfire season was not only extreme but also exceptionally unusual. It showcased bushfires in forested regions on a scale unprecedented in Australia's recorded history, with fire behavior surprising even experienced firefighters. Further, fire-generated thunderstorms pose extreme dangers, producing intense winds, lightning, tornadoes, and black hail. The total count of fire-generated thunderstorms in south-eastern Australia surged from 60 at the end of 2018-19 to almost 90 by the conclusion of the 2019-20 bushfire season, marking an alarming increase of almost 50% within a single season.