Australia’s transport sector is the third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, amounting to 19% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions in direct emissions.
Since 2005, greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 11% and are currently projected to be the largest source of CO2 emissions in Australia by 2030.
Reducing emissions in the transport sector through using more renewable energy sources will require concerted action across government and industry to secure long lasting benefits, while managing and minimising the impacts of the transition.
What is the Australian Government doing?
We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The government is already decarbonising the transport sector by:
- increasing the uptake of electric vehicles and developing a Fuel Efficiency Standard through the National Electric Vehicle Strategy
- improving consumer information including real world emissions testing
- promoting sustainable fuels and other emerging technologies for aviation and maritime
- development of a Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan
- establishing the Australian Jet Zero Council to work with industry stakeholders across the country to ensure a strong and sustainable aviation sector that supports emissions reduction targets, while growing jobs and innovation
- engaging with international partners to reduce shipping emissions.
To plan for the future, the government is developing a Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan to support reducing transport emissions. The Roadmap and Action Plan will provide a clear strategy to:
- reduce emissions across the transport and infrastructure sectors
- support national and international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- maximise on economic and productivity opportunities
- provide investors with future investment certainty
- deliver a nationally consolidated approach to accelerate decarbonisation for key sectors.
It will examine the potential pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 across all transport modes (light vehicle, heavy vehicle, aviation, maritime and rail), freight and supply chains, active transport planning, and supporting infrastructure.
How can I have my say?
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts will work closely with industry, government, states and territories, local government, peak bodies, unions and other interested bodies to inform the development of the Roadmap and Action Plan. Public consultation is currently planned for late 2023. Formal submissions will be made available at the start of the formal consultation process on the department’s Have Your Say webpage later in the year.
If you wish to raise any initial views or concerns before the formal consultation process begins, please complete our short online survey. Your feedback will be used to inform analysis for the Roadmap and Action Plan.
Please click on the ‘Survey’ button below to access the survey questions.
Australian Privacy Principle 5 Notice
The department is collecting information for the purposes of informing approaches to develop a Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
The department will use this information to inform consideration of issues associated with Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan and will store this information securely. It may be used by the department to make further contact with you about the review.
The department will not disclose information to third parties, except in the circumstances outlined below.
Submissions, in part or full, including the name of the author may be published on the department's website unless the submission is confidential. Confidential submissions (including the author's name) will not be published. Private addresses and contact details will not be published or disclosed to any third parties unless required by law.
Submissions will only be treated as confidential if they are expressly stated to be confidential. Automatically generated confidentiality statements or disclaimers appended to an email do not suffice for this purpose. If you wish you make a confidential submission, you should indicate this by ensuring your submission is marked confidential.
Confidential submissions will be kept securely and will only be disclosed in the following circumstances:
- in response to a request by a Commonwealth Minister
- where required by a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia
- where required by law.
- The department may also disclose confidential submissions within the Commonwealth of Australia, including with other Commonwealth agencies, where necessary in the public interest.
Please note that in order to protect the personal privacy of individuals in accordance with the Privacy Act any submissions containing sensitive information, personal information or information which may reasonably be used to identify a person or group of people may not be published, even if not marked as confidential.
The department's privacy policy contains information regarding complaint handling processes and how to access and/or seek correction of personal information held by the department. The Privacy Officer can be contacted on 02 6274 6495 or by email: privacy@infrastructure.gov.au.