Without intervention, transport will be Australia’s largest emitting sector by 2030. We will need to fundamentally change our approach to transport to reduce emissions and drive more sustainable outcomes. Greater use of rail will be key to our success.
Accelerating emissions reductions through collaborative action
Meeting Australia’s net zero targets will require significant collaboration across industries.
The ARA is a founding member of Infrastructure Net Zero, a collaborative partnership of industry bodies and government agencies that seeks to accelerate decarbonisation in the infrastructure sector.
Infrastructure Net Zero is delivering several workstreams to support this goal, including:
- Defining infrastructure net zero
- Forecasting net zero skills in the infrastructure sector
- Public and private sector engagement
Driving mode shift to deliver more sustainable transport
A shift to more sustainable transport modes such as active and public transport can drive emissions reductions in the immediate term. The ARA is advocating for greater use of rail as part of a mode-shift first approach to reducing emissions.
Leveraging mode shift was one of three key recommendations to emerge from the National Decarbonisation Transport Summit, hosted by the ARA, Roads Australia and the Public Transport Association of Australia and New Zealand. The Summit called for:
- A mode shift first approach
- The acceleration of equitable zero emission vehicle and rollingstock transition
- Consistent and adequate assessment of whole-of-life carbon
View the National Decarbonising Transport Summit Report to find out more.
Sector plans
The ARA has made submissions to inform the development of the Federal Government’s decarbonisation sector plans. The sector plans will guide policy development to support the achievement of the country’s net zero targets. Our submissions highlighted the importance of:
- Mode shift to leverage immediate and short-term emissions reduction
- Coordinated and collaborative efforts to support the transition to low and zero emissions rollingstock
- Energy certainty to support the technology transition
- A greater focus on sustainability in the planning and procurement stages of maximise the use of sustainable materials
The ARA continues to engage with both government and industry to progress these issues.