Industry Bodies Partner for Net Zero Initiative

A joint initiative has been launched this week to assist government and industry reach net zero carbon emissions on infrastructure projects.

Groups included in the Infrastructure Net Zero initiative includes the Australian Constructors Association, the Australasian Railways Association, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Consult Australia, the Department Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, the Green Building Council Australia, Infrastructure Australia, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, the Infrastructure Sustainability Council and Roads Australia.

Australian Constructors Association chief executive Jon Davies said the initiative meant government and industry would collaborate on creating and navigating policy for the sector.

“We are entering a time where we need everything all at once—net zero, decarbonisation, sustainability—and the policy landscape is challenging,” Davies said.

“If we are to reach our goal, we need to start doing things differently now.”

He also outlined some of the priorities for the initiative.

“The immediate priorities will include defining net zero for infrastructure, reaching alignment between public and private sectors, uplifting capability in the supply chain and procuring for net zero,” Davies said. 

“The path to net zero is a collaborative one and we are already on our way.”

Net zero has become a key issue in the industry—the Infrastructure Sustainability Council now has ratings for projects’ design, development and operation.

Developers are also considering how best to achieve net zero carbon emissions with their projects and how to incorporate infrastructure as part of that process with state governments and councils creating policy and regulation to support thissuch moves. 

The construction industry is also looking at options for achieving environmental targets from building practices to materials.