By 2030, the transport sector will become the largest emitting sector. Failing to reduce emissions will impact environmental, social, economic and health outcomes for future generations across NSW.
Our goal
Our goal is to transition to a sustainable and low-emission transport system. Including net zero emissions from our operations and fleet by 2035 and net zero embodied emissions by 2045.
How we’ll achieve our goal
Reduce our operational and embodied emissions
We have already made substantial progress towards our 2035 goal to have net zero emissions from our operations and fleet. We are also committed to having net zero embodied emissions by 2045. We aim to do this through:
- Transitioning our entire public transport bus fleet to zero emission buses.
Moving the Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink electrified network to 100 per cent renewable electricity.
Focusing on zero and low-emission transport, making better use of the current network and looking for non-build solutions where possible.
Transitioning all Transport ferries, non-passenger vehicle fleets and construction, maintenance vehicles and equipment to zero and low-emission.
Using sustainable materials to reduce whole-of-life greenhouse gas emissions in transport projects.
Facilitate the uptake of electric vehicles
Not every journey can be made on foot, by bike or via public transport. Therefore, we are facilitating the transition to zero or low-emission vehicles for these trips. We are encouraging the uptake of EVs through:
Aiming to make charging an EV as straightforward as refuelling a conventional vehicle.
Updating our policies, standards and legislation to align with our net zero commitments and encourage the uptake of EVs over high-emission vehicles.
Support the freight industry move towards net zero emissions
Transport is committed to decarbonising freight, a critical step towards net zero emissions. Pivotal to this is the switch from diesel fleets to low and zero emission freight vehicles. Transport will support the freight industry by:
- Providing better access to the NSW road network for heavy vehicles operating under Performance Based Standards (PBS).
- Enable more use of rail freight, which produces 16 times less greenhouse gas emissions than road freight.
Case study: Towards Net Zero Emissions Freight Policy
The role of freight transport has never been more critical to the people of NSW than it is right now. To ensure the future sustainability of the freight transport sector, we need to look at ways to reduce the sector’s carbon emissions and respond to the changes our society and environment needs.
With a focus on road and rail freight, the Towards Net Zero Emissions Freight Policy sets out the strategic direction and actions to support emissions reductions across the freight transport sector and help achieve the NSW Government’s target of net zero by 2050.
This policy was developed after consultation with key stakeholders in:
- the NSW freight industry
- academia
- vehicle manufacturers
- service providers and
- local, state and federal government departments and organisations.
In the first year, 10 per cent of the actions have been completed, 59 per cent are either underway, ongoing or planned and just under a third (31 per cent) are yet to commence.
