Introduction to the report

Across Australia. decarbonisation targets and net zero goals have been set. In Queensland, we have 10 years left to achieve the 2035 target of 75% reduction from 2005 levels. Net zero emissions by 2050 is also fast approaching.

Aligned to the state's decarbonisation ambitions, Queensland's renewable energy generation target is 80% by 2035. As it stands, current policies can deliver 60% of the 75% reduction committed. This is at the same time as significant population growth across the state requiring significant investment in our infrastructure.

In 2022, the transport sector produced 17.3% of Queensland's emissions, the third largest source of emissions overall and the long-term trend is currently showing increasing emissions. Road transport was the main source of this sector's greenhouse gas emissions, contributing 85.4% of the sector's total emissions in 2022.

Figure 1: Australian decarbonisation commitments

How can we achieve net zero targets whilst also delivering large, resilient, infrastructure and megaprojects?

The key challenge for the transport infrastructure sector is continuing to deliver on its core mandates, while being agile enough to undertake the rapid resilience and decarbonisation transition required to deliver climate-resilient projects and meet net zero goals. Achieving this within the necessary timeframes required to align with national decarbonisation objectives will require sector-wide collaboration, involving input from political and policy development players as well as private industry experience, know-how, efficiency, and innovation.

The need for adaptation

Even if we reached net zero emissions today, the world's climate systems will continue to change in response to historic emissions for decades to come. We must adapt to become more resilient to these impacts.

The first pass National Climate Change Risk Assessment³ highlights nationally significant climate risks which includes "risks to transport assets and infrastructure that disrupts critical supply chains, connectivity, the movement of people and emergency responses". The report also recognises the interdependencies with the "primary industries and food, regional and remote communities and economy, trade and finance systems".

What was once unprecedented in terms of climate hazards has now become the norm, with these events trending upwards in terms of frequency and intensity. We find ourselves in a world marked by urgency and emergency. Multiple critical issues interact and compound, often leading to broad, high-level approaches that lack focus on individual topics. This dilutes efforts and strays from targeted solutions. The diverse impacts of climate chnage across society create unprecedented challenges for policymakers and industry alike. Balancing the cost of infrastructure maintenance and repair against preventative adaptation measures is crucial.

3 - NCRA first pass

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