What we do

In accordance with the Climate Change Act, we report annually to the NSW Parliament on the state’s progress against its legislated emissions reduction targets and adaptation objective. 

We review existing policies, identify gaps and weaknesses, and recommend improvements. We assess whether current measures are sufficient to meet legislated emissions reduction targets and the adaptation objective, and provide policy recommendations. 
 

We engage with a wide range of stakeholders including government, businesses, organisations and individuals, to inform our analysis and recommendations. This ensures our advice reflects lived experiences and considers the challenges and opportunities facing different regions and sectors. 
 

We are climate experts who undertake and commission multidisciplinary research and integrate diverse stakeholder insights to build the evidence base needed to inform policy. This includes targeted analytical work to understand knowledge gaps and address technical, economic and commercial barriers. 
 

Within our legislated remit, we educate and inform the NSW Government, businesses, organisations and individuals about the importance of meeting NSW’s legislated climate goals for emissions reduction and adaptation, and the benefits for NSW. While our analysis is objective, we are clear about the necessity of action and the risks of inaction. 

While we are established under legislation and funded by the NSW Government, our advice, analysis and recommendations are independent of ministerial direction or control. We report directly to the NSW Parliament through the Joint Standing Committee on Net Zero Future, ensuring our work is free from political influence. The Minister for Climate Change may ask the Commission to provide advice. 
 

The Commission does not make or implement policy. We provide independent, evidence-based advice and recommendations, but it is for NSW Government to decide whether to adopt our advice and how to implement policies to meet the legislated climate goals. 
 

We do not have regulatory powers or enforcement functions. The Climate Change Act requires the Minister for Climate Change to respond within six months of our advice outlining the action to be taken or the reasons for refusing our advice. We cannot compel NSW Government to follow our recommendations. 

The Commission is not an advocacy group. We support NSW’s transition to net zero and climate resilience by providing objective, balanced, evidence-based advice consistent with the Guiding Principles of the Climate Change Act. 

We provide long-term strategic advice (such as decarbonisation pathways to 2050) and are not involved in day-to-day operational matters of the NSW Government. We assess overall policy frameworks, but decisions on individual projects and developments are made by relevant government departments and regulatory bodies.