Towards net zero

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[Image changes to show Dr Larry Marshall talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a close side view of Larry talking to the camera, and text appears: Dr Larry Marshall, Chief Executive, CSIRO]

Dr Larry Marshall: Across the globe, more than 130 countries – representing 80% of the world’s population and more than 80% of global emissions – have set net zero targets.

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But reaching net zero means a fundamental reimagining of everything we do.

 

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The transition will take place not just with technology, but through economic, political, and social spheres.

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It will require a new energy system, new modes of transport, new fuels, new materials, new modes of financing investments, new ways for industry sectors to interact, and new ways of living.

[Image changes to show a medium view of Larry talking to the camera]

 

This transition will take place at a scale and at a pace which we haven’t seen in our lifetimes.

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Our seemingly impossible challenge is to lower emissions across multiple sectors while also supporting our economy and our communities to grow.

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But science loves to solve seemingly impossible challenges.

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CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, is uniquely placed to help our country meet our net zero challenge.

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We work with every major Australian university, all levels of government, and with businesses both large and small across every sector of the Australian economy.

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We are a catalyst for innovation, which means we can help Australia’s innovation system to be stronger together in pursuit of our common goal.

[Image changes to show text and an Australian map with pinpoints on a blue screen, and then symbols appear of a factory with the chimney stacks being replaced with a wind turbine, and text appears: National Program of Missions, Transition to Net Zero]

 

Our National Missions are helping Australian businesses and communities to solve their greatest challenges, like reaching net zero using pathways most appropriate to them, and transforming Australia’s exports.

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Our Hydrogen Mission is already helping to realise Australia’s $50bn hydrogen export opportunity, and working on next generation storage and critical metals supply to underpin the transition to low emissions technologies.

[Images move through to show a close and then a medium view of Larry talking to the camera, a truck on a mine site, a close view of a farmer moving a mob of sheep, and shipping containers being moved]

 

But towards net zero means going beyond just energy – we need to work with all industries, including hard to abate sectors such as steel, agriculture and heavy transport. 

[Image changes to show a medium and then close view of Larry talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a view looking down on the Earth’s surface]

 

It also means creating new sources of negative emissions technology to help offset these industries, and reduce existing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

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And it means working with the regions that will be most affected by this fundamental change, to ensure their ongoing prosperity and resilience in the face of massive transformation.

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But Science is lighting the path forward.

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The Towards Net Zero Mission is focussed on helping Australia to prosper in a low carbon world.

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It brings together an ecosystem of collaborators to help achieve this, because we will not reach our net zero target by acting alone.

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The scale of transformation required is beyond anything we have ever achieved before and we will only get there, if we go together.

 

[Image changes to show Dr Michael Battaglia talking to the camera, and text appears: Dr Michael Battaglia, Towards Net Zero Mission Lead]

 

Dr Michael Battaglia: Realising the transition to net zero requires new collaborative science and technology.

 

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In many sectors, options to reduce emissions are emerging but many are still in early stages and require significant improvement in cost and performance and we don’t have the time to wait. 

 

[Images move through of solar panels next to a building, the CSIRO Energy Centre, and wind turbines along a stretch of coastline]

 

We know that the transition to net zero involves more than just low emissions technology.

 

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We need to create pathways for this technology to support prosperity and generate other benefits to the environment and society if they are to be widely adopted.

 

[Images move through of panels on the roof of a large building, an aerial view looking down on the CSIRO Energy Centre, and three people walking through a solar farm towards the camera]

 

A purposeful and planned transition to achieving net zero emissions can be used to create a wide range of positive and environmental social benefits, including new industries and jobs suited to regional areas.   

[Images move through to show close and medium views of Michael talking to the camera, and then symbols of a factory, a government building, a family, and a microscope appear on a blue screen, and text appears: Our Towards Net Zero Mission Partners, Industry, Government, Communities, Research]

 

To accelerate adoption of these pathways to a low emissions future, the Towards Net Zero Mission led in Australia by the CSIRO works with partners across industry, government, our communities and the research sector to build Australia’s national capability to support the transition.

 

[Images move through to show Michael talking to the camera, electricity poles and wires, cars moving along a road, and a view of a plane in the air]

 

We know that 80% of Australia’s accountable emissions in 2020 came from processes involved in stationary energy production, fuel use, and passenger transport.

 

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The challenging transition to reduce emissions from these sources is underway.

 

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But to achieve our national net zero target we need to address all emission sources.

 

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This last 20% involves industries such as steel and agriculture that make critical economic contributions to Australia’s prosperity and help shape the fabric and vibrancy of regional Australia.

 

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And these are the hardest sectors to abate.

 

[Image changes to show text on a blue screen: Supporting Australia’s Low Emissions Transition]

 

The Toward Net Zero Mission will support Australia’s low emissions transition in three ways.

 

[Image shows an arrow appearing below the previous text pointing to new text: Assisting in emissions reduction in hard to abate industries]

   

We will assist in emissions reduction in our economically important hard to abate industries

 

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and value chains like low emissions steel, and sustainable aviation, and the agriculture sector, by helping them adopt low emissions technologies.  

[Image changes to show new text appearing on the previous slide: Working with regions to unlock opportunities for a low emissions future]

 

We will support and work with regions in transition and help them unlock opportunities from a low-emission future. 

 

[Image shows new text appearing on the slide: Increasing supply of sequestration opportunities] 

And we will work to overcome barriers to increase the supply of sequestration opportunities

 

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and we will find ways that this can support environmental goals and local communities because despite all efforts, the nature of some industries means that they will continue to emit emissions.

 

[Image changes to show Warren Flentje talking to the camera, and text appears: Warren Flentje, Towards Net Zero Mission Industrial Carbonisation Lead]

Warren Flentje: The iron and steel sector is an industry of great economic value to Australia and to the rest of the world.  

 

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Australia produces almost half of the world’s iron ore and this represents the nation’s largest single source of export revenue, bringing in A$153 billion last financial year. 
 

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But steel making is an emissions intensive process. The process of turning iron ore into steel currently contributes around 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

 

[Image changes to show Warren talking to the camera, and then images move through of a close and medium view of Warren talking to the camera]

 

Our Towards Net Zero Mission is working with major iron ore producers and international steelmaking partners across a range of relevant areas to develop some of the key technologies and processes that will help get steel to net zero.

 

[Image changes to show Jody Bruce talking to the camera, and text appears: Jody Bruce, Towards the Net Zero Mission Regional Transition Lead]

 

Jody Bruce: The net zero transition means new ways of doing things at all levels.

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The Towards Net Zero Mission is working hand in hand with these regions in transition, bringing together stakeholders from across research, industry government and the community

 

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to navigate the transition and create a shared vision for their unique futures.

 

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We’re in discussion with federal and state governments, regional councils, and community groups and local businesses to help equip them with the tools and frameworks to navigate this complex environment.

 

[Images move through to show medium and close views of Michael talking to the camera]

 

Dr Michael Battaglia: The Towards Net Zero mission will work with partners across industry, government and the innovation sector to translate this deep science capability into real world action and enhance our national capability to support net zero goals, while at the same time mapping a path to long-term, low-emissions prosperity.

 

[Image changes to show text on a white screen: CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency, www.csiro.au/towardsnetzero]