Over 100 industry and government leaders gathered for the Australasian Railway Association’s (ARA) Sustainability Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne to discuss critical measures to accelerate Australia’s journey to net zero.
Rail comprises of only four per cent of direct transport emissions in Australia, with ARA CEO Caroline Wilkie labelling efforts to increase the industry’s modal transport and freight share as critical.
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson, Assistant Secretary for the Net Zero Unit Andrew Morgan, Inland Rail Sustainability Principal Andrew Aitken, ARTC CFO Kylie Gallasch, Suburban Rail Loop Authority General Manager of Land, Planning, Environment and Sustainability Lissa van Camp and Infrastructure NSW Executive Director of Strategy, Planning and Innovation Dena Jacobs were also among the summit’s key speakers.
Wilkie says the ARA is working with all parties and policymakers to ensure the sustainability of rail is not only improved, but better utilised.
“The decisions government and industry make today will have a long-lasting impact for generations to come,” Wilkie says.
“The ARA is working with industry and government to support collaboration and a shared commitment to measures to create a sustainable, equitable and efficient transport system under net zero conditions.
“Aside from walking, rail is the most environmentally friendly form of transport and is the fastest way to a more sustainable future and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
“Increasing the use of public transport and enabling more freight on rail, as well as leveraging new technologies to reduce congestion and carbon emissions, is the starting point for this transition.”
The ARA has lodged a submission to the Department of Infrastructure’s Net Zero Consultation Roadmap, which was informed by ARA research, including the recent ‘The Critical Path to Decarbonise Australia’s Rail Rollingstock’.
The summit also included panel discussions on ‘powering our future – the energy transition’, decarbonising our freight rail network, fast tracking our journey to net-zero, resilience and innovating to deliver sustainable outcomes.
Read more ATN:
Historic day as Gympie Bypass prepares to open
New national safety campaign must include truckies
Fremantle Port strike update