The Climate Change Authority has outlined technology transition and emissions pathways to support the journey to net zero.
The Climate Change Authority released its 2024 Sector Pathways Review this week, outlining the technology transition and emissions pathways to support our journey to net zero across key sectors.
The report complements six sector decarbonisation plans in development by the Federal Government, including the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap and action plan.
The review highlighted the importance of decarbonising the transport sector’s light and heavy vehicle fleets, as well as supporting mode shift to active and public transport to facilitate the pathway to net zero. It reported that while promising technologies do exist to reduce emissions in the rail industry, barriers would need to be overcome to decarbonise operations on non-electrified sections of the network.
The review also highlighted concerns about unknown costs for operators in transitioning to alternative energy sources, including the need for greater clarity on the supply and demand of renewable fuels. The review recommended statistics on the production, use and import/export of renewable fuels be collated and published. The need for greater clarity on alternative fuels and transition costs were highlighted in the ARA’s recent research project, The critical path to decarbonising Australia’s rail rollingstock.
The ARA is continuing to engage with government on opportunities to accelerate the rail industry’s decarbonisation pathways and support greater use of rail as part of the net zero transition.