The first chair and commissioners of a body to help achieve emissions reduction targets have been announced.
The seven commissioners and their chair of the NSW Net Zero Commission, which was established in December when the state set statutory targets, will report annually to the government on their progress.
The commissioners include the state’s chief scientist Hugh Durrant-Whyte, former Australian Renewable Energy Agency board members Maria Atkinson and Meg McDonald, and the director of the Australian Research Council’s Centre for Climate Extremes, Professor Andy Pitman.
Former New South Wales Treasurer Paul Grimes was appointed chairman.
In April, Dr Grimes was also appointed to the Commonwealth Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee.
The commission will help the state achieve its ambitious emissions reduction targets, said Energy Minister Penny Sharpe.
“The strong, independent Net Zero Commission will provide us with expert assessments of our progress in achieving our net zero targets and adapting to our changing climate,” Ms Sharpe said.
She will present the NSW Energy Outlook at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia in Sydney on Tuesday, where executives from several major energy companies will also speak.
The event will discuss the development of renewable energy projects, simplifying regulations and promoting investments, with the aim of addressing the challenges and exploiting the economic opportunities of the energy transition.
The state has set legal targets to reduce emissions by 50 percent of 2005 levels by 2030, 70 percent by 2035 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.