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29 Jul 2024, by Amy Sarcevic
As Australia’s largest provider of diversified rail freight, Pacific National is well aware of its environmental and social responsibility.
With 12700 active wagons across 70 locations, the operator has more than 700-weekly services, transporting millions of tonnes of resources around the country each year.
With such scale, ESG Principal, Anitra Hobby, says decarbonisation will be challenging, but is something the organisation is deeply committed to.
Ahead of Connect Rail 2024, she sheds light on the four-pronged strategy that will help it get there.
Supporting the Australian transition to net zero
Given the energy advantages of rail over road, Ms Hobby says Pacific National recognises its role in supporting Australia’s net zero future.
“With locomotives, you’ve got steel on steel, rather than rubber on track, and you’ve also got less wind resistance. Naturally, rail is more energy efficient – so we need to do all we can to support a modal shift to rail,” she said.
In line with the Australian Government’s Safeguard Mechanism, the company has also embedded ESG into its business decision making, ensuring climate is factored into each aspect of its operation.
“Whether or not rail, by itself, can reach net zero by 2050 is hard to say, because it hinges on the availability of carbon neutral technologies we don’t yet have access to. But we can nonetheless dedicate ourselves to the task, as part of a broader national effort.”
Decarbonising its own operations
With this in mind, Ms Hobby says the company is in the process of exploring options to decarbonise its scope 1emissions from services.
“Everything from our crew cars, to locomotives and terminal equipment; as well as offices and depots,” she said.
The company is exploring options like bio-diesels to fuel locomotives, as well as exploring battery electric and green hydrogen-powered alternatives.
Technologies aside, the company has a range of optimisation projects including fuel digitisation and train length improvements. In-line fuelling – which reduces the need for fuel wagons – and double stacking – which maximises haulage per vehicle – are also being used.
“Part of our approach is to think short, medium and long term. In the short term it’s all about efficiency and optimisation, medium term is about low carbon technologies which are available now, and long term involves those carbon neutral products which we don’t yet have access to.”
Building climate resilience
Recognising the threat of climate change to both its operation and surrounding communities, Pacific National recently undertook a climate change risk assessment and has developed a business resilience framework.
“We began our assessment in FY24, and in the coming year we will review alignment of our climate reporting to the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. This will aid the development of a Climate Transition Action Plan, which will contain appropriate strategies for climate mitigation. We will also investigate the physical risks underpinning our operation, including on tracks, which we use but don’t own,” Ms Hobby said.
To ensure no stone is left unturned, the company is engaging with employees across the organisation. “Staff will be actively involved in helping us understand the full gamut of risks we need to mitigate.”
Engaging and collaborating with others
Given the scale of decarbonisation and mitigation challenge, Ms Hobby says a solid leadership team and governance framework is essential.
“You really need a dedicated leadership, along with a framework for managing projects. But you also need continuous reflection – to constantly ask yourself how well things are tracking, and what else needs to be done,” she said.
Equally, collaboration is important for identifying and understanding carbon sources across the business.
“Whether its electricity in the offices, or vehicles on the ground, a net zero operation means knowing where your power is coming from and making sure every corner of the business is carbon neutral.”
Further insight
Talking more about Pacific National’s climate action strategy and decarbonisation roadmap, Ms Hobby will present at the upcoming Connect Rail Conference, hosted by Informa Connect.
Joining her on the stage are Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing; Dr Natalie Pelham, Chief Executive of the ONRSR; and Michael Hopkins, Chief Executive Office and Commissioner from the National Transport Commission.
This year’s event will be held 5-6 August at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.
One pass to Connect Rail gives access to three conferences in one: Rail Decarbonisation, Rail Infrastructure, Rail Operations.
Register your tickets here.
About Anitra Hobby
Anitra Hobby joined Pacific National in 2016 and now supports the company’s environmental and social governance efforts. A results-driven Business Improvement professional, Ms Hobby has more than twenty years’ experience in delivering change, through analysing processes and controls, Lean Six Sigma projects, and targeted training.
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