With the release of its Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Policy and Measurement Guidance, Infrastructure NSW (INSW) has set expectations for Government delivery agencies on managing ‘upfront carbon’ – carbon emissions generated in the production of materials and asset construction – in infrastructure delivery across NSW.
The Policy will ensure embodied carbon is a key consideration in early project stages and that carbon information is collected consistently across Government projects.
Key Policy requirements include:
- Measuring upfront carbon at the following key project stages:
- Business case (in line with the NSW Guide to Cost-Benefit Analysis (TPG23-08)
- Planning approval, design, and procurement
- Construction and practical completion.
- At business case stage: Challenge the need for new infrastructure/the extent of construction, for example, through technology solutions or repurposing assets, and setting targets where agencies have the capability.
- At planning approval, design, and procurement stage: Engage with the market early to invite innovation and where agencies have the maturity, setting and inviting bidders to compete on carbon.
- At construction and practical completion stage: Report carbon management activities and project emissions.
The policy applies to all NSW Government infrastructure delivery agencies, excluding public non-financial corporations, public financial corporations, or local government authorities.
Thresholds of applications are >$50 million for building sector projects, and >$100 million for other infrastructure types.
The Policy will apply to projects that have their strategic business case initiated after April 2025.
Transport for NSW, INSW has also published a Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Roadmap that outlines their activities and milestones relating to embodied emissions over the next three years.
The Roadmap outlines essential initiatives for 2024-2026 aimed at reducing carbon emissions in infrastructure delivery.
It underscores the cooperative partnership between INSW and TfNSW, both leading entities within the NSW Government committed to this cause.
Transitioning the infrastructure sector to a low-carbon model demands complete management of emissions throughout the entire lifecycle of assets.
This involves examining design choices in planning, mitigating emissions during construction, and addressing residual emissions through waste management.
Achieving this requires healthy collaboration between the government and industry to endorse innovative, low-carbon design and construction techniques for government projects.
It also entails the accurate collection of data on the carbon footprint of infrastructure undertakings.
