A number of transport bodies are calling on both the state and Federal governments to commit to urgent action to greater support the sector’s push towards net zero emissions, as well as Australia’s national emissions targets.
The Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand, (PTAANZ) the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and Roads Australia (RA), and consultancy Arup have joined in an Australian first to push for such action to accelerate decarbonisation.
A submission has been tabled, calling for “radical transformation over incremental change”, stating that “Collaboration and courage will be necessary to accomplish a sustainable, equitable and efficient transport system under net zero conditions.”
The submission was made to the Federal Government’s Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap and was informed by a National Decarbonising Transport Summit that was hosted by leading organisations and government in Canberra on June 26. This included the participation of more than 40 Australian transport executives from government and the private sector.
The submission outlines three key recommendations. These include a mode shift at unprecedented scale, ramping up the zero emissions vehicle transition, and making whole of life carbon assessments central to decision making.
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PTAANZ Chief Executive Lauren Streifer said governments must continue planning for mode shift alongside long-term land use and economic planning.
“By working together to ensure more people use public and active transport more often, the community will benefit from the considerable economic, social and environmental outcomes this brings.”
ARA CEO Caroline Wilkie said Australia must adopt whole of sector changes to maximise the use of sustainable transport modes and leverage new technologies.
“Mode shift is the most powerful lever available to reduce emissions and jumpstart the transport sector’s transition to net zero. We need to be relentless in our pursuit of greater use of public transport and sustainable freight modes,” Wilkie said.
This will require government and industry to fundamentally transform how we plan, build and operate our transport networks.”
RA Chief Executive Ehssan Veiszadeh said the submission also recommends developing a standardised embodied carbon measurement system for the transport sector. This would include agreed timeframes for carbon targets, carbon accounting and shared carbon architecture.
“With better tracking and visibility of the emissions embodied in the supply chain, we have an opportunity to build a consistent approach into procurement frameworks nationally to deliver more sustainable infrastructure,” Veiszadeh said.
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