RAI releases net zero report at Regions Rising event

RAI chief executive officer Liz Ritchie released Towards Net Zero: Transition Pathways in Regional Australia, which zeroed in on potential pathways for communities and businesses in regional Australia to reach net zero emissions.

The report explored Australia's position in the global context, examined the roles of regional cities and highlighted the elements of success in communities which were already leading the way.

Ms Ritchie delivered a unique transition framework.

"It was highlighted regional communities lacked information about the transition, specifically the practical steps which would be undertaken in their region and what supports would be made available," she said.

According to Ms Ritchie, RAI's efforts to estimate regional fossil fuel consumption was impacted by data availability and recommended governments provide data and analysis to enable place-based policies.

"The reports will deep dive into issues affecting regional communities during the transition," she said.

The research was conducted under the Intergovernmental Shared Inquiry Program and funded by the Commonwealth Government and SA, Vic, Qld, WA and NSW governments.

The report revealed lessons learned from international energy transitions, interviews with stakeholders in eight regional cities about awareness and action on the transition, case studies of place-based accelerated transitions and a framework to help guide businesses and communities.

"Regional Australia is experiencing change like never before and we must focus energies on the right outcomes to ensure a sustainable future with people at the centre," Ms Ritchie said.

She also highlighted regional SA had the lowest share of workforce engaged in renewables, nationally.

But, SA was among just three states to have an increase in renewables workforce from 0.8 per cent in 2016 to 2pc in 2021.

"Achieving targets will require technological advancements and broader changes to our society," Ms Ritchie said.

"Workforce skills, planning processes, shift in policy priorities are needed and regional Australians are facing a greater transition challenge."

Ms Ritchie believed as Australia had a high reliance on fossil fuels, it would face the most significant transition journey.

"Much of the attention has been on main energy producing regions but other parts of regional Australia have not received the same," she said.

"If we get this wrong, vulnerable regional communities will see their population shrink, high levels of unemployment, and inevitably, the liveability of regional towns will weaken."