Industry Associations Rail freight generates 16 times fewer emissions than road freight.
Rail’s role in creating a future sustainable transport system The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released in April confirmed we are facing a ‘now or never’ turning point in our efforts to address climate change. The report found our efforts to invest in a shift to a low carbon economy was about six times lower than it needed to be, with rapid change required to meet our future energy needs. The findings may not come as a surprise to many, but highlight once again the urgent need to take action. Rail has long contributed to the sustainable development of our cities and communities, offering low carbon mass transport compared to other passenger modes and safer, more sustainable freight transport options. It continues to be at the heart of our communities, supporting environmental, health and safety outcomes that benefit our people. However, as we embark on this global challenge to move to a low carbon economy, the rail industry will need to take a new leap forward to support our net zero future. About 70 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to, or influenced by, infrastructure. The transport sector contributed to almost a fifth of Australia’s emissions in 2020. It is clear that greater use of rail, effective and efficient public transport options and a reduced reliance on personal transport need to be part of the solution.
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But so too will the adoption of renewable energy sources, a greater focus on efficiency and a commitment to circular economy principles within the rail industry. THE ROLE FOR RAIL Rail has long played a key role in our sustainable development. Passenger rail travel generates five times less emissions than car transport, highlighting the importance of encouraging people to leave the car at home and choose public transport. This has never been more evident than the present day, when the industry is actively working to bring people back to the rail network after the disruptions to our regular travel habits as a result of the pandemic. The need for people to return to rail is an urgent one. If one in 10 passengers who took to their cars during the pandemic did not switch back to rail, Australia could incur $4 million in increased environmental costs. On our freight network, rail freight generates 16 times fewer emissions than road freight, as well as delivering wider safety and sustainability benefits. Greater use of rail has the potential to maximise the efficiency of the supply chain
Caroline Wilkie, chief executive, Australasian Railway Association.
as a whole as the industry prepares to meet a growing freight task over the next decade. It is clear rail offers a sustainable option to support our path to net zero. But it will not be enough to stand still in the face of the current environmental challenges facing the world, and further action will be needed. MAINTAINING A BIG PICTURE FOCUS The ARA recognised the need for broader engagement with the infrastructure sector to address these challenges when it released its Sustainability Strategy in 2021. The strategy confirmed a need for rail to contribute to net zero solutions as part of an integrated, whole of sector approach to our
