The Australian Government has placed manufacturing at the centre of its Net Zero Plan, releasing new sector strategies that outline how industry and resources will transition to net zero emissions by 2050 while remaining competitive and creating new economic opportunities.
The plan, published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), sets a 2035 target of reducing emissions by 62 to 70 per cent below 2005 levels.
According to the government, the strategy aims to ensure a fair and efficient transition that supports households, businesses, and industry while generating new jobs.
Central to the Net Zero Plan are five priorities: decarbonising and expanding the electricity network, electrifying processes where possible, switching to low-carbon fuels where electrification is not feasible, innovating to expand emissions reduction solutions, and scaling up carbon removals to balance residual emissions.
Six sectoral plans support the overarching strategy, covering electricity and energy, industry, resources, transport, agriculture and land, and the built environment.
The industry and resources plans, led by DCCEEW, emphasise the role of manufacturing and resource sectors in achieving national targets.
The Industry Sector Plan identifies nine subsectors with the greatest opportunity and need for decarbonisation, including alumina and aluminium, food and beverages, metals refining and smelting, cement and concrete, iron and steel, pulp and paper, chemicals and plastics, broader manufacturing, and waste and resource recovery.
The government said electrification, cleaner fuels, and new technologies will be central to reducing emissions in these industries while boosting their competitiveness.
The Resources Sector Plan highlights opportunities to strengthen the economy by boosting domestic production of minerals and metals critical to clean energy and advanced technologies.
The government said the plan positions Australia to be a leading global supplier of low-emissions products while attracting investment and supporting a fair transition across regions.
The government said the plans were informed by expertise from agencies including the Climate Change Authority, Geoscience Australia, CSIRO and Treasury.
More information is available on the DCCEEW website.
