Three freight bodies have issued guidelines to lower the industry’s carbon emissions
A new report issued by three road, rail and infrastructure bodies has unveiled a roadmap to help decarbonise Australia’s freight and transport industry.
The Australasian Railway Association (ARA), in conjunction with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) and Roads Australia (RA), has combined for the Journey to Net Zero report that offers ways of removing carbon emissions from freight operators and the transport industry as a whole.
KPMG and Arup authored and sponsored the report respectively, as it has 46 recommendations that will help accelerate decarbonising the industry while analysing examples of how to best implement these ideas.
The recommendations include a national strategic approach to the transport and infrastructure sector, investment in initiatives for an efficient and sustainable system at both state and federal levels as well as embedding accountability in the planning and construction of these sustainable transport projects.
Other key features handed down include enabling capacity building and education along with a culture of collaboration in procurement and using leverage technology to optimise designs to assist with the transition to a low carbon industry.
A fundamental principle underlying the report’s suggestions is collaboration, as the trio of groups want to see transport companies combine to lower emissions.
“Governments can make significant impact through policies and as major transport infrastructure and service providers,” Arup Australasia co-chair Kerryn Coker says.
“We see this report as a catalyst for more sustainable public and private transport ecosystems with enduring social benefits.”
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Decreasing a reliance on motor vehicles is another primary suggestion made by the coalition of industry bodies, as the report says placemaking is the first step needed to provide a sustainable transport network.
If the government and freight bodies in the industry work together from the start to provide a state and national approach, the report says the sector can be decarbonised quickly and properly.
“We need to adopt and promote innovative technology solutions that optimise design, construction and operation so that solutions can be deployed,” the report says.
“Government and industry need to work together from the onset – at the business case and investment decision stage.”