Way of the future: Tackling transport emissions

What will it take to move Victorians away from petrol and diesel to power our cars?

Infrastructure Victoria is convening a state-wide online community panel to consider what measures are needed to move Victorians away from petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles.

The independent infrastructure advisory body is calling for 450 Victorians to participate in an online community panel which will inform recommendations to be included in the state’s updated 30-year infrastructure strategy, to be finalised mid next year.

The transport sector is Victoria’s second most emission intensive sector and accounts for around 20 per cent of the state’s total carbon dioxide emissions (22.3 million tonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e) from a total of 113.9 Mt (CO2e) in 2016).

Infrastructure Victoria Chief Executive Michel Masson says cars are the biggest contributor, generating 56 per cent of the state’s transport emissions.

“Unless Victorians adopt low or zero emission vehicles at a faster pace than current trends, we will not reach the state’s legislated target of net zero emissions by 2050.”

“As COVID restrictions ease, data worldwide indicates more people are choosing private transport. It’s more critical than ever before that we identify solutions to tackle transport emissions and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels,” Mr Masson said.

Infrastructure Victoria uses representative community panels to deliberate and inform policy recommendations for complex issues impacting Victorians. Our work with this panel will help inform further practical, effective and community-shaped steps the government can take to reduce transport sector emissions.

“COVID-19 has necessarily changed our approach with a move to solely online community engagement. We are seizing the opportunity to provide more Victorians with a chance to participate in the community research which is integral to our work,” Mr Masson said.

“Significantly, the breadth of this panel will provide us with important insights into a diversity of perspectives and experiences, and the views of different communities across the state including outer suburban and regional Victorians.”

Community panel members will be asked to commit about 15 hours to the deliberations over a four-week period between January 25 and February 19 next year. Selected participants will include different ages, genders, jobs, cultural backgrounds and postcodes from across the state to ensure the panel is broadly representative of the Victorian population.

Participants will be compensated for their involvement through a $60 payment on conclusion of the events. For more information and to complete a panel expression of interest application, go to www.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/communitypanel