In November, COP29 – “the finance COP” – will deliver the new collective quantified goal on climate finance, which will replace the 2009 Copenhagen climate finance goal of USD100 billion a year channelled to developing countries by 2020. It is well recognised that private sector finance has a critical role in supporting public finance for climate change mitigation and adaptation globally. This workshop will explore initiatives including development of the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy being led by ASFI in partnership with the Commonwealth Treasury, to scale up and guide investments toward supporting the global transition towards net zero.

As the renewable energy transition accelerates, greater focus will fall on industry and resource sectors emission contributions. This workshop will examine the role of the enhanced Safeguard Mechanism, its potential evolution, and the role of aligned policies as well as corporate and consumer expectations in changing investment strategies. As with the other sectors under consideration for Net Zero Plans, cross cutting issues like sustainable finance, carbon market strategies, circular economy and growing social equity, including for First Nation and regional communities, will also be discussed.

Australia’s built environment accounts for roughly one fifth of our emissions, and with a growing population decarbonising physical infrastructure is a clear priority. While innovators exist, they come against a challenging flux of market and policy conditions that often hinder rather than help essential low carbon innovations. This workshop will explore the policy puzzle pieces that must come together to support a decarbonised construction industry in Australia. As with the rest of the 6 sectors under consideration for Net Zero Plans, cross cutting issues like sustainable finance, carbon market strategies, circular economy and growing social equity, including for First Nation and regional communities, will also be discussed.

2024 has seen significant reports from leading international climate change bodies around beyond value chain, Scope 3, mitigation, and new research into the level of carbon dioxide removals needed after achieving net zero emissions for a safer climate future. The Revised Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting note that low reversal risk carbon removals must scale up one thousand-fold by 2050. While decarbonising industry, electricity and transport remain urgent priorities, and as intense scrutiny remains on carbon crediting, this workshop will explore how private and public carbon market strategies can move beyond offsetting neutrality approaches to net zero and net negative emission alignment.

Transport is Australia’s third highest emitting sector, contributing roughly 21% to Australia’s total emissions profile. While the Government’s electric vehicle target and new vehicle fuel efficiency standards are supporting emissions reductions in light vehicles, longer distance transport continues to pose challenges for decarbonisation. Join this panel as we discuss the challenges and opportunities for decarbonisation in long distance freight and passenger transport, including rail, air and road. As with the rest of the 6 sectors under consideration for Net Zero Plans, cross cutting issues like sustainable finance, carbon market strategies, circular economy and growing social equity, including for First Nation and regional communities, will also be discussed.

With the Net Zero Economy Authority, Australia will soon have a formal authority to help guide its transition to net zero emissions, while ensuring that workers, primarily in the energy industry, are not left behind and that regional communities are engaged in opportunities of the transition. Some states have similar institutions or support, and companies are recognising their responsibility in helping to manage the transition. This workshop looks at the role of just transition planning and social licence in supporting successful decarbonisation or other transitions in rural and regional Australia.

As businesses prepare for mandatory climate-related financial disclosures in Australia, international best practice guidance on net zero transition plans also continues to mature and converge. The Australian Government has committed to developing guidance for disclosing net zero transition plans. Work is also underway to develop an independently verifiable international standard on net zero, that would establish a real economy standard to complement the financial standards developed by the International Sustainability Standards Board. This panel will explore how companies can navigate the rapidly evolving ecosystem of net zero standards to demonstrate market leadership.

Climate policies, carbon markets and the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, will be key to achieving nationally determined contributions in the critical Asia Pacific region. Carbon taxes, regulations and markets are emerging across Asia and support for market development and financing is increasingly becoming an integral aspect of bilateral and multilateral partnerships such as the Australia-Singapore Green Economy Agreement and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. This workshop will build on insights and outcomes from the recent CMI Singapore Carbon Market and investor Forum.

As well as focusing on the new collective quantifiable goal on climate finance and the Loss and Damage Fund, Article 6 cooperation and carbon market frameworks are a key priority of the COP29 Presidency. The Presidency notes past disappointments in bolstering mitigation and adaptation ambition through the implementation of Article 6, though some progress was made in the recent Bonn intersessional sessions, and countries have been pressing ahead with MOUs, capacity building and first transfers under Article 6.2. This workshop will discuss the opportunities and challenges for COP29.

Electricity is Australia’s largest emitting sector, and while momentum builds towards the 2030 82% renewable energy target, challenges remain around supply, firming, grid upgrades, social licence and ecological conservation. This panel will bring together industry experts to consider the opportunities in large scale renewable energy uptake, and how momentum and investment can be boosted pre and post 2030. As with the rest of the 6 sectors under consideration for Net Zero Plans, cross cutting issues like sustainable finance, carbon market strategies, circular economy and growing social equity, including for First Nation and regional communities, will also be discussed.

Effective data collection, coordination and communication will be critical as efforts continue to build integrity in Australia’s carbon crediting framework and as mandatory and voluntary, such as the Australian Carbon Industry Code of Conduct, disclosure requirements evolve. This workshop will discuss key requirements and developments in establishing a national data platform that enables interoperability and enhances transparency between carbon, water and ecological data. It will also discuss data issues to assist investor and community confidence in corporate transition plans.

The Agriculture and Land sector has already contributed considerably to Australia’s emission reductions and has many opportunities to do more. Plans for the land and agriculture sector will need to boost climate smart agriculture while supporting efforts to reverse deforestation, repair nature and engage First Nation rights and aspirations. It is estimated that land-based sequestration will need to increase eightfold alongside industrial decarbonisation for Australia to help limit warming to 1.5C. This workshop will consider how policy frameworks can support these goals alongside restoration of healthy, biodiverse ecosystems. As with the rest of the 6 sectors under consideration for Net Zero Plans, cross cutting issues like sustainable finance, carbon market strategies, circular economy and transition issues will also be discussed.

With Phase 2 of the European Union’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) already being implemented, and as Australia considers its own CBAM to support the decarbonisation of domestic industry, we look at how trade mechanisms and agreements can support the net zero transition. Experts consider not only domestic applications, but also how countries across the Asia Pacific region are already accounting for projected economic constraints for heavy emitting industries.

State governments and agencies have played a historic role in carbon and energy investment, pioneering greenhouse gas, energy efficiency and other markets alongside expanding responsibilities in pollution licensing and other regulations. State aspirations have helped build national ambition but also come amongst competition for global and national investment in industries and expertise critical for the net zero transition. This workshop will examine how state initiatives can boost or hinder national policies and investments in industrial decarbonisation and carbon crediting supported climate action.