Local Government Net Zero Accelerate Program

Local governments play a key role in incorporating climate solutions into local decision-making and responding to climate change, natural disasters and improving infrastructure resilience and reducing carbon emissions.

The Local Government Net Zero Accelerate Program is being led by the Local Government Association and Department for Environment and Water to help councils meet the state’s emission reduction goals.

The first of its kind delivered in South Australia, the program will support councils access greater support to help them:

• identify and report on emissions profiles
• take action on areas for emissions reduction
• establish a council emissions reduction strategy.

Program benefits

In July 2023, South Australian councils were invited to submit an expression of interest to participate in the Local Government Net Zero Accelerate program.

The successful 15 councils participated in the inaugural program, with the results producing a best practice guide for local government.

Councils taking part in the program received tailored advice and support to help lift their capability and capacity to better respond and accelerate their emission reduction efforts.

Support included expert advice about:

• net-zero essentials
• how to build a greenhouse gas profile
• emission reduction opportunities
• evaluation areas
• setting targets and building an emission reduction pathway
• principles in developing a net-zero strategy.

The program produced a best practice guide for South Australian councils to undertake carbon accountant practices, with specific reference to organisational and operational boundaries and the accounting of scope three emissions.

Workshop series

Between March and July 2025, LGA hosted a series of four targeted Net Zero Accelerate workshops for councils.

Designed and delivered by dsquared consulting, these sessions provided council staff with practical knowledge, real-world case studies, and interactive sessions to support meaningful change.

The workshops focused on the following key areas:

• Grasping greenhouse gas emissions: understanding different types of emissions, how to collect data, and calculate carbon footprints
• Tackling emissions: Discovering strategies to reduce emissions from direct sources and energy use
• Building greener: Helping councils incorporate eco-friendly methods and technologies in construction projects, focusing on both day-to-day operations and the materials used
• Pathway to Net Zero: Understanding how to set ambitious yet achievable targets for reducing emissions, following best practices and exploring available grant funding opportunities.

Resources

• Best practice guide to Emissions Management for Local Government in SA (PDF 3.1 MB) – to support councils to develop emissions inventory and reduction strategies
• A Sector wide summary for Local Government Emissions in SA (PDF 2.2 MB) – reports the total GHG emission for the sector

Read more

SA councils invited to accelerate through a new net zero program – media release 13 July 2023