Environment & Sustainability Asciano is able to provide transport solutions with a third or less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional long distance road transport, through its high use of rail and support of sea transport through its ports and stevedoring operations. Rail and sea freight are lower emissions solutions for freight transport. Immediate benefits are gained from any modal shift from road to rail or sea transport. This means Asciano is well placed with regard to being able to offer lower carbon transport solutions than traditional road freight companies.
Asciano Environmental Sustainability Policy Asciano is committed to being an environmentally sustainable company. With rail and port operations that facilitate lower emissions transport solutions, Asciano is well placed to maintain and increase its position in this area. As environmental sustainability affects all areas of the company such as commercial, finance, operations, procurement, our policy endeavours to ensure that all employees of Asciano are aware of their capacity to influence sustainable outcomes.
Asciano Environmental Sustainability Newsletters & Reports Company Environmental Sustainability NewsletterAsciano has an internal newsletter dedicated to environmental sustainability issues. This newsletter increases awareness on climate change issues external and internal to Asciano. September 2009 edition
Energy Efficiency Opportunities Asciano registered as a member of the Energy Efficiency Opportunities scheme in March 2008 and submitted its Assessment and Reporting Schedule in December 2008. Asciano's public report on energy savings identified in the 2009 financial year for the Energy Efficiency Opportunities scheme is attached below. Asciano EEO Public Report FY2009 Submissions, Presentations & Papers In 2008, Asciano was an active participant in many forums for promoting environmental sustainability and transport. Submissions and representation were made to the following. Submissions on climate change issues and policy, and conference presentations are provided below.
Garnaut Climate Change ReviewAsciano provided a submission to the Garnaut Review with concerns that the structure of the transport industry would not allow a carbon price to effectively reduce emissions. Complementary policies to support a carbon price are required to ensure that sufficient transport infrastructure, competition policy, financial incentives and new technology are available, and lead to lower emissions in the transport sector. Attached submission
Wilkins ReviewAsciano provided a copy of its complementary policies recommended in its Garnaut Review submission, to the Wilkins Review. The Wilkins Review examined complementary policy initiatives that could be implemented to support greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Attached submission
Federal Treasury ModellingThe Federal Treasury conducted modelling for its long term forecast of the Australian economy and greenhouse gas emissions. The modelling examined emissions growth and the effect of different policy/price effects on emissions target scenarios. Asciano supported the Australasian Rail Association in its response to assist the Government with information for this modelling.
Carbon Pollution Reduction SchemeAsciano provided submissions and dialogue on the design elements of the National Greenhouse & Energy Reporting Act to ensure it had practical application for the transport sector. Submissions were also provided in response to the Emissions Trading Scheme and the subsequent Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper. Asciano also represented the rail industry at the Industry Round Table Consultation group for the design of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. Attached submission - Green Paper
National Transport CommissionIn response to climate change, carbon and complementary policies, the National Transport Commission requested submissions for papers on Freight in a Carbon Constrained Economy, and on Rail Productivity in Australia. Asciano provided submissions to both reviews and recommended large scale structural reform in future design of the Australian rail network to achieve higher productivity and lower emissions. Attached submission - Rail Productivity Attached submission - Freight Transport in a Carbon Constrained Economy
Transforming Rail Report - Rail Centre for Research CollaborationAsciano was involved in assisting the development of a report on greenhouse gas emissions and rail transport. This report provides the economic case for investment in rail transport based on the social benefits obtained from better air quality, less road congestion, few road accidents and less greenhouse gas production. Attached report - Transforming Rail
Senate Select CommitteesSubmissions were provided to Commonwealth Senate Select Committees on climate change and climate change policy. Attached report - Senate Economics Committee on Climate Change Attached report - Senate Select Committee on Climate Change Policy
Conference PresentationsConference presentation is below. Australasian Rail Association - Melbourne - Environment Management in Rail Conference Oct 2008 Asia Rail Conference - Singapore - Nov 2008 Australian Rail Summit - Sydney - Role of Rail in Developing Sustainable Freight Transport Urban Rail - Sydney - March 2009 - The CPRS and the future of the rail industry
The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme & Asciano Asciano was actively involved in the government's consultation process during the Scheme's design phase and through our strategic planning process is building capability to meet CPRS requirements. All of Asciano's scope 1 emissions come from liquid fuels, and under the CPRS, the suppliers of these liquid fuels will be responsible for the carbon permit liability. In 2011, under the current design of the CPRS, Asciano will have the option of taking on the management of this carbon permit liability. Unless Asciano opts to take on the permit management for its liquid fuel use, it will have no direct carbon permit management responsibilities. Asciano is preparing itself for the CPRS through: improving its emissions data capture to allow it to meet its reporting requirements and permit forecasting; reviewing contracts to allow all costs to be recovered; and is investigating ways to further reduce its emissions. Asciano is required to report its energy and emissions for the National Greenhouse & Energy Reporting Act 2007. |