Lead with mode shift: Public transport must be prioritised to meet net zero targets

The release of the Federal Government’s 2035 emissions targets, as well as the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan, confirms the scale of the challenge ahead of us to achieve a net zero future.

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and Public Transport Association of Australia and New Zealand (PTAANZ) welcome the Government’s recognition that shifting more journeys to public transport, walking and cycling is a powerful lever to cut emissions and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The 2035 target is ambitious and achievable – but it requires urgent action and new approaches to be realised.

Mode shift must be a priority – placing public and active transport as the first choice for more people.

The fact that 59 per cent of transport emissions are generated by light vehicles confirms that the EV transition alone will not achieve our decarbonisation goals. Research has confirmed we need to shift 35 per cent of passenger kilometres from private vehicles to public and active transport to achieve our climate goals.

Strong Federal Government leadership will be required to embed mode shift as a national priority in climate and transport policy, aligned with a nationally coordinated, certain investment pipeline to deliver more frequent, reliable and affordable public transport.

Australia will also need sustained investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, and reforms to planning and pricing levers that currently encourage car dependence.

A clear national direction is needed to ensure the pace and scale of change will match the urgency of the challenge.

The Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan provides a strong pathway. We must keep mode shift front and centre to ensure we can deliver its priority actions and ensure our sector plays a leading role in the global climate response.

The ARA and PTAANZ will continue partnering with government and peer organisations to put mode shift at the centre of climate action.

ARA Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie said there has never been a more important time to invest in public transport.

“Australia must transform how we plan and invest in public transport to drive down transport emissions,” Ms Wilkie said.

“There has never been a stronger case for investing in the productivity and efficiency of our current networks and developing a clear investment pipeline to expand public transport to more people and places.

“The decisions we make today will shape the liveability of our cities for decades to come. That is why public transport must be at the centre of climate action as we work towards a net zero transport sector.”

PTAANZ Chief Executive Lauren Streifer said it was time for a generational shift in how Australians moved.

“We thank the Federal Government for its ambition in setting the 2035 targets and for recognising mode shift in the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan. We have a major task ahead, and the EV transition alone won’t get us there,” Ms Streifer said.

“To meet these targets, we need a generational shift in how Australians move – with public transport, walking, and cycling becoming the easiest choice, particularly in our cities and regional centres.

“By investing in transport and city design that put people and communities first, we can cut emissions, create healthier places to live, and build a future where our cities and regions truly thrive.

“We look forward to working with government and peer organisations to achieve our ambitious targets.”