Environment
- Publication no: AP-R721-24
- ISBN: 978-1-922994-55-4
- Published: 19 November 2024
- PDF (free) Download
This user guide and the Decarbonisation Decision-Making Multi-Criteria Analysis Tool are designed to help transport agencies to strategically assess emission reduction interventions, guiding them to prioritise the most impactful, cost-effective, and technologically viable options. This approach ensures that agency resources are allocated to actions most conducive to achieving carbon reduction goals.
The tool and user guide have been developed predominately for state transport agencies; however, the general process or elements would also be useful for local governments seeking to assess and prioritise emission reduction interventions for the road networks that they deliver and operate.
Download the Decarbonisation Decision-Making Multi-Criteria Analysis Tool [Excel | 238.8 KB].
- Glossary
- 1. Introduction and Context
- 1.1 Purpose of this user guide
- 1.2 How to navigate this user guide
- 1.3 How this user guide fits within transport agency decision-making
- 1.4 Decarbonisation decision-making framework overview
- 1.5 Advantages and challenges of MCA
- 1.6 Austroads member engagement through development of this User Guide and Tool
- 2. Designing a Decision-Making Framework
- 2.1 Overview of the decarbonisation decision-making framework
- 2.2 Defining the purpose and scope of the framework
- 2.3 Identifying options
- 2.4 Strategic review
- 2.5 Confirming MCA components
- 2.5.1 Objectives
- 2.5.2 Criteria
- 2.5.3 Performance measures
- 2.5.4 Weighting Single-score MCA approach Multi-score MCA approach
- 2.5.5 Scoring and comparing against a base case The role of a base case
- 3. Applying a Decision-Making Framework
- 3.1 Overview of the MCA application process
- 3.2 Engaging with stakeholders
- 3.3 Scoring
- 3.3.1 Single-score MCA results
- 3.3.2 Multi-score MCA approach
- 3.4 Testing and finalising the MCA
- 4. Supporting Guidance
- 4.1 Assessing potential carbon reduction
- 4.1.1 Establish the scope and boundary of carbon emissions to assess
- 4.1.2 Identify sources of carbon emissions to consider
- 4.1.3 Assess relative carbon reductions compared to the base case
- 4.2 Assessing cost-effectiveness
- 4.2.1 Estimate the carbon reduction achieved relative to the base case
- 4.2.2 Estimate the costs (and savings) associated with the emission reduction intervention
- 4.2.3 Apply a discount rate to the stream of future costs
- 4.2.4 Calculate the $/tCO2-e metric
- 4.3 Assessing ability to control/influence
- 4.4 Assessing technology and commercial readiness
- 4.4.1 Technology readiness level (TRL)
- 4.4.2 Commercial readiness index (CRI)
- 4.5 Assessing risks and constraints
- 4.6 Assessing co-benefits
- 4.6.1 Define co-benefits
- 4.6.2 Data collection and analysis
- 4.6.3 Co-benefits scoring
- 5. References
- Appendix A Example Emission Reduction Interventions
- Appendix B Worked Example – Intervention Prioritisation for a 10-year Decarbonisation Roadmap
- B.1 Designing a decision-making framework
- B.2 Applying a decision-making framework
- 4.1 Assessing potential carbon reduction
Austroads has released the Environment and Sustainability Initiatives Stocktake 2025–2027: Year 1, continuing and building on earlier work to provide deeper insight into how transport agencies across Australia and New Zealand are embedding sustainability practices across their operations and strategic frameworks.