Why Active Transport Must Power Australia’s Net Zero Future
Last week, the Albanese Government announced Australia's new 2035 climate target under the Paris Agreement: a 62–70% reduction in emissions below 2005 levels by 2035. Alongside this, a Transport Sector Net Zero Roadmap was released. But does it align with Better Streets’ vision for healthier, people-focused cities?
The Transport Sector’s Role in Emissions
The Transport sector is Australia’s third largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - and the fastest-growing. It accounts for 22% of Australia’s total GHGs, with nearly 60% coming from light vehicles, such as cars and vans. This makes transport a critical sector for decarbonisation.
What the Transport Sector Plan says about Better Streets
Better Streets advocates for climate action that also delivers social and community benefits, with core recommendations that promote walking and cycling.
The Plan itself begins on a strong note, highlighting opportunities to cut emissions through the avoid-shift-improve planning framework. Encouragingly, Priority Action 1 of the plan is “Invest in enabling low and zero emissions transport infrastructure (avoid and shift)”, which active transport will undoubtedly be critical in achieving.
Avoid-shift-improve framework. Active transport fits in the ‘shift’ category.
Priority Action 1 of the Transport Sector Plan, for which active transport will be essential in achieving.
The roadmap, however, stops short of setting specific targets for active transport, focusing instead on accelerating the uptake of private electric vehicles (EVs) through policies and incentives.
The limits of an EV-heavy approach
While EVs and cleaner fuels are essential, Treasury modelling shows they are not sufficient to reach net zero by 2050. Even though it comes quite close to net zero, passenger transport is projected to still leave 4 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050.
Modelling shows that there will be significant residual emissions at 2050. Active transport could help close this gap if the right polices are set.
Our streets won’t change much if we switch to EVs and neglect investing in active and public transport.
Beyond emissions, EVs don’t tackle traffic congestion, road fatalities, non-exhaust pollution or chronic health issues linked to car dependency. Streets may get quieter, but without road space reallocation, our streets will remain dominated by cars, leaving little room for walking, cycling, outdoor dining, or vibrant community life.
The Co-Benefits of Active Transport
The plan acknowledges broader benefits of decarbonisation: lower costs, improved productivity, and better health outcomes. Research shows that investing in active transport delivers almost $5 in economic benefits for every $1 spent.
This underscores a key shortcoming of emissions-only strategies: they risk overlooking solutions that also enhance social equity, traffic safety, and overall quality of life. Active transport does all three while tackling leftover emissions, closing the gap to net zero.
Conclusion
Australia’s transport roadmap recognises the value of active transport but places disproportionate weight on EVs as the path to net zero. In a hard-to-abate sector like transport, active transport could be critical in reducing residual emissions and reaching net zero. The 2035 target submission comes just days after the release of Australia’s first national climate risk assessment, which has been received as a massive wake-up call and urging for more robust policies and action. Talking about climate change with friends, family and colleagues keeps the issue on the agenda, and you could inspire more people to walk, scoot or bike more in everyday life.
(Image taken from Transport Sector Plan.)
About the author
Kristie is a dedicated environmental advocate who sees active transport as a powerful way for people to take control of how they move through and connect with their cities, while also improving their health and cutting air pollution. Since high school, she has seen active transport as the most logical, liberating and sustainable modes of transport within cities. Kristie works in the sustainability sector on carbon projects and joined Better Streets in early 2025 as a volunteer website project coordinator. She dreams of a future where her friends and family embrace two wheels, exploring Sydney’s streets together safely, breathing fresh air, and feeling a greater sense of community and love for the great outdoors and the city we live in.
