The ARA Sustainability Committee met on Tuesday 29 October to discuss progress on the 2024 workplan and key achievements for the year. 

Highlights included the successful launch of The critical path to decarbonise Australia’s rail rollingstock report, engagement with the Federal Government on the net zero sector plans, the delivery of the ARA Sustainability Webinar Series and the ARA Sustainability Leaders’ Summit. 

The group worked together to outline the strategy for 2025, with minor revisions to the focus areas. The group also discussed how best to maximise group participation with the ARA’s ongoing advocacy work, and how to ensure findings from research projects are shared widely within the industry.  

The group also heard a presentation on the ARA’s recently published Progressing Gender Equality in the Australasian Rail Industry report and discussed ways to better integrate ongoing diversity work within the sustainability portfolio. The group also discussed the work underway to progress actions identified in the rollingstock decarbonisation critical path, and heard updates on the ongoing First Nations Engagement project, anticipated to be finalised early next year.