Transport leading net zero innovation

Roads Australia (RA) welcomes the Federal Government’s new Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap as aligning national policy with industry momentum.

Roads Australia, the peak industry body for roads within an integrated transported system, welcomes the roadmap’s focus on reducing embodied emissions, electrifying transport systems, and enabling low-carbon infrastructure.

“The Commonwealth’s Roadmap is an important reminder of scale of the transformation ahead of us and the significant opportunities for Australia’s economy if we get this right,” RA CEO Ehssan Veizsadeh said.

“These priorities mirror the practical actions underway across the sector. Australia’s transport sector has been on the journey of decarbonisation for some time, delivering world leading innovations across resilience, the circular economy and reductions in embodied carbon. We look forward to working with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions on continuing this momentum.

“Not only is decarbonisation achievable, but it is also scalable and economically sound.”

Two standout examples from the industry illustrate this leadership:

• North East Link early works (Victoria): Contractors reused more than 300,000 tonnes of excavated material onsite, significantly reducing emissions from transport and landfill while accelerating project delivery.

• Western Sydney Airport terminal design: The project team embedded carbon considerations from concept stage, selecting low-carbon materials and optimising building orientation to reduce operational energy use—setting a new benchmark for sustainable infrastructure planning.

Roads Australia’s On the Road to Net Zero report outlines 10 recommendations to accelerate progress, including harmonised carbon measurement, updated benchmarks, and a national decarbonisation library. The report also calls for a mechanism to challenge outdated standards, ensuring innovation is prioritised to accelerate further decarbonisation.

“Transport infrastructure plays a vital role in Australia’s total emissions,” Mr Veiszadeh said.

“Reducing this footprint is both a climate imperative and an economic opportunity. With clear policy direction and industry leadership, Australia is well-positioned to build a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient transport system.”

Roads Australia

Roads Australia is peak body for roads within an integrated transport system. Our 120+ member organisations include Australia’s transport agencies, major contractors and consultants, asset owners and operators, material suppliers and technology providers.

Media contact: Katherine Danks | katherine.danks@roads.org.au | 0416 206 961