Adapting to a changing climate and reducing carbon emissions remain central priorities for PIA. We are committed to ensuring that climate policy goes hand-in-hand with planning for well-located and sustainable housing supply.
At the Federal level, there are several big-picture plans and policies underway for both emissions reduction and climate adaptation, with implications for infrastructure and land use practices across Australia.
National Net Zero Plan and Sectoral Decarbonisation Plans
On the decarbonisation / climate mitigation front, the Federal Government’s will set out the carbon emissions reduction pathway to 2050. It aims to align with Australia’s international commitments, set a 2035 target and provide the overall framework to coordinate the different actions across Government.
The Net Zero Plan will be linked to separate decarbonisation plans for six economic sectors:
- Electricity and energy,
- Transport and infrastructure,
- Industry,
- Agriculture and land,
- Resources and
- Built environment.
PIA, together with ASBEC, successfully advocated for the inclusion of the built environment sector. This is potentially the most directly linked to the day-to-day work of planners. It will address residential and commercial buildings, open spaces and water infrastructure (altogether responsible for about 23% of Australia’s emissions).
PIA its support for regular review and improvements to the National Construction Code (NCC) on a three-year cycle, responding to a roadmap for cost effective operational and embodied emissions reduction.
Other actions for planning which PIA considers relevant to the Sector Plans include:
- Preparing integrated spatial plans for renewables and supporting infrastructure
- Updating guidance for environmental impact assessment of renewables projects
- Introducing standards to account for the lifecycle impacts of building materials (embodied carbon)
- Prohibiting or discouraging new gas connections
- Setting targets for public and active transport use
- Requiring capacity for EV charging facilities in certain new developments
- Promoting patterns of land use which reduce emissions
- Prioritising land for carbon sequestration.
PIA recognises the need for climate action across all major sectors of the economy – our 2023 Achieving Net Zero report advocates for ways that planning can enable net zero across different sectors. PIA also lodged a submission on the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap in July 2024. We are especially interested in promoting accessibility, active transport, and corridor planning and protection.
The Net Zero Plan and Sector Plans are currently being progressed across multiple Government departments led by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
Climate Change Authority Sector Pathways Review
The Net Zero Plan, including the 2035 target and Sector Plans, will be informed by advice on emissions reduction initiatives from the Climate Change Authority (CCA). The CCA is an independent (non-departmental) statutory body.
The CCA released an issues paper titled earlier in 2024 which PIA strongly supported and suggested improvements to in this submission, including adopting a ‘theory of change’ approach – working backwards from carbon tonnage targets to work out what interventions are needed and when.
More recently, the CCA released its : a deep dive into the policy, technology and industry development levers to reach net zero in each of the six sectors. The value of planning is highlighted in the Review, including its responsibility for regulating building performance, coordinating/assessing renewables projects and managing conflicts, and in healthy precinct design.
The CCA is also due to provide advice on the 2035 emissions target in the final quarter of 2024. Together, these reports will form the key inputs for finalising the DCCEEW Net Zero Plan and Sector Plans.
National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan
Moving to climate adaptation and natural hazards planning, DCCEEW is also currently working on a to identify and analyse the key risks to Australia from increased climate hazards. The Risk Assessment will then be used to develop a National Adaptation Plan to guide national responses.
The and were released concurrently in early 2024. PIA responded to both papers in this submission, expressing support but emphasising the need for more detail on governance and implementation to put the plans into practice.
The First Pass Assessment identified 56 nationally significant climate risks, including 11 key risks that require further detailed analysis due to their potential severe impacts on Australia. The impact of key risks to 2050 and 2090 is currently being investigated by the Second Pass Assessment.
The (NEMA) will also play a role in adaptation planning by consolidating and sharing information about natural hazard risks. NEMA will also likely assist during the implementation phase by managing programs for resilience planning and initiatives at state and local levels.
In the meantime, several states are also preparing disaster mitigation plans via their reconstruction authorities, led by the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s . These will support subsequent place-based plans for specific high-risk areas.
Australian Rainfall and Runoff Guidelines
Version 4.2 of the (ARR) is now available following an 18-month review project by DCCEEW and Engineers Australia to provide updated climate considerations (Book 1, Chapter 6). These changes factor-in increased short duration rainfall intensity around Australia.
This information will be used in new assessments and may necessitate review of flood and related hazards modelling.
PIA & Insurance Council of Australia Communique
PIA and the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) recently co-hosted events and prepared a on the role of planning and the need to strengthen capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by:
- Preventing homes being built in harm’s way – by settlement planning using up-to-date information on climate scenarios combined with local knowledge.
- Managing existing risks where people already live – by updating building standards to match the prevailing hazards.
- Identifying where planned retreat is required if risks cannot be mitigated.
Next Steps
PIA will continue to contribute and respond to the pending national reports and will continue to identify specific planning reforms to enable climate action in line with our national position and initiatives of each division expressed in our Climate Conscious 黑料大事 System Campaign.