The federal government is calling for public feedback on the most effective options for governments, businesses and communities to reduce transport emissions by 2050.
The Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap, which has been released this week, identifies opportunities for productivity benefits and innovation through decarbonising transport and transport infrastructure.
The roadmap process intends to identify changes that can help navigate the path to a cleaner future in the industry.
As the third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, amounting to 21 per cent of total emissions last year, transport is a major focus ahead of 2030 goals.
The federal government is currently developing a Net Zero 2050 plan to ensure Australia maximises the benefits of the global transformation to net zero and provide long-term policy certainty to drive investment in low emissions and renewable technologies.
To support the plan, the government is developing six sectoral plans covering electricity and energy, industry, resources, the built environment, agriculture and land, and transport.
The Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan will be the net zero sectoral plan for the transport and transport infrastructure sectors.
“We seek the views of all interested Australians, and wish to engage with industry, the climate movement, experts, unions, the community and with all levels of government to develop this sectoral plan, ensuring it is robust, ambitious and achievable, and accepted by the community,” federal transport minister Catherine King says.
“We have set out important questions in the Consultation Roadmap and will work with stakeholders on identifying and implementing actions to reduce transport emissions in a way that works for Australia.
“With this new Consultation Roadmap acting as a guide, we are committed to creating a cleaner future that is economically responsible and socially inclusive, creates jobs and ensures we have a future made in Australia.”
King says taking action will increase the productivity and resilience of the sector, the infrastructure which it underpins and support job creation from the sector’s Net Zero transition.
By providing feedback on the Consultation Roadmap, all Australians now have an opportunity to share their views on the potential pathways for transport and transport infrastructure and the actions governments, business and the community can take for those sectors to contribute to net zero by 2050.
This feedback will guide the development of the actions and policies that the government will commit to in the final Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan, which will be released later this year.
Consultation will close on July 26 this year.
“Across the economy, Australia emitted about 465 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent gases in the past year, with the transport sector responsible for about a fifth of those emissions,” federal climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen says.
“There are exciting opportunities for positive change and innovation that will come with decarbonising our transport and infrastructure sectors.
“Our recently passed National Vehicle Emissions Standards will avoid about 80Mt of emissions by 2035, and save billions in fuel costs. I encourage all interested Australians to have their say on the Consultation Roadmap.”