Beyond Zero: turning net zero ambition into practical action

Across Australia’s water sector, net zero commitments are becoming standard. Utilities, governments, universities, contractors and consultants are investing heavily in sustainability teams and carbon reduction initiatives. Yet despite this growing focus, efforts to reduce emissions have often developed in parallel rather than through a coordinated approach.

The Australian Water Association’s new Beyond Zero Specialist Network aims to change that, bringing together expertise from across the sector to better understand emissions, share knowledge and develop practical pathways to reduce carbon from water and wastewater systems.

For Aurecon Water Associate Sam Skinner and John Holland Environment and Sustainability Manager Keith Dimech, both a driving force behind the new  Beyond Zero Specialist Network the timing reflects a broader shift across the sector.

“First, I’d like to thank all the committee members and people who have come forward to be involved with such great enthusiasm. In terms of why we are doing this now, there are a lot of pieces of the puzzle coming together,” Skinner said.

“We’re seeing it from the technology side, from the regulatory and political landscape, and from a growing willingness across the sector to actually tackle these big issues.

“The issues themselves are becoming more clearly defined, but the pathway forward is still challenging. With this network, we have a remit that really matters. We want the network to help the industry get moving over the next 10 years.”

John Holland Environment and Sustainability Manager Keith Dimech said water authorities and their partners have invested heavily in sustainability capabilities in recent years. But despite that growing effort, there is rarely a dedicated focus specifically on carbon.

“In simple terms, we started this because AWA didn’t already have a network like it. There’s a clear need for the water industry to better align its efforts – particularly around carbon reduction,” he said.

“There are a lot of people doing good work, but they’re doing it in many different ways. There’s an opportunity to streamline that.”

Beyond Zero

The network’s name reflects its ambition to think beyond emissions targets and explore broader opportunities for decarbonisation across the water sector. Skinner said ‘Beyond Zero’ recognises the strong links between carbon reduction, resource recovery and circular economy thinking.

“Part of the reason we called it Beyond Zero is exactly because of that broader view. There’s a lot of overlap with areas like circular economy and resource recovery. They’re going to be critical pathways,” Skinner said.

“We wanted the network to take a holistic view. Not just focus narrowly on hitting a net zero target, but think about how we get there properly.

“Discussion is important, especially when we’re talking about water’s role in the clean energy transition and the broader clean economy. But we want the network to be very outcomes-focused and practical, producing tools and tangible outputs.”

Dimech said the 'Beyond Zero’ concept also reflects a more realistic understanding of carbon within water and wastewater systems: “The reality is we’re never going to be zero carbon. Carbon is an incredibly important part of wastewater and water systems”.

“The question is more: how do we deal with the carbon we do produce? How do we treat it as a resource, as well?”

Skinner said the network also aims to complement, rather than duplicate, work already happening across the sector.

“One of AWA’s great strengths is its platform for sharing knowledge and connecting people. The network can help share knowledge and standardise the work that’s currently happening in parallel across different organisations,” he said.

“The connection piece is especially important. We want to partner with organisations that are already doing great work and use AWA’s platform to bring together different parts of the industry to share best practice, share knowledge, and accelerate change.”

There is also an opportunity to improve how the industry allocates resources toward emissions reduction, Dimech said.

“There’s a lot of inefficiency in the way we currently approach carbon reduction. If we pool our resources, we could achieve much better outcomes,” he said.

“By creating this group, we can bring together decision-makers and senior people from across the sector to share knowledge, reduce costs, and increase the speed at which emissions reductions happen."

Key challenges

Despite strong momentum around net zero commitments, one of the sector’s biggest challenges is simply understanding its emissions profile. Dimech said methane emissions from wastewater systems remain particularly difficult to quantify.

“The water sector has signed up to net zero targets, but in many cases we don’t actually know how much methane we’re emitting. That’s a pretty fundamental problem,” he said.

“What we’re trying to move toward is a framework that gives us a more real-time understanding of where emissions are coming from and what’s causing them. Right now, emissions data can be opaque. We want something more transparent and accessible, so people understand where emissions are occurring and can do something about them.”

Skinner said one of the frameworks he hopes the network will explore is built around three core elements: model, measure and mitigate.

“One concept I’ve been particularly keen to implement is a technical framework built around three elements: model, measure and mitigate,” he said.

“Measurement alone can be technically difficult. We’re talking about emissions from wastewater treatment plants, reservoirs, open sewers and irrigation channels. There are also modelling challenges, especially when using advanced process models.

“The opportunity lies in bringing those three elements together to establish best practice.”

Next steps

The Beyond Zero Specialist Network is already gaining strong interest. Skinner said the response to the new network is an indication of the sector’s appetite for collaboration.

“We’re building an extended network of senior industry fellows, emerging professionals and people who may not traditionally be part of these conversations. One of the first major milestones will be a workshop at Ozwater’26," he said. “We’re also working toward producing an industry white paper."

For Dimech, the measure of success will be tangible outcomes: “If, by the end of the year or next year, we have five or six outcomes that wouldn’t have happened without the network, that would be success for me”.

“It would also be great to see the Beyond Zero group become a recognised entity within the industry, as somewhere people can go for resources, tools and guidance."

The Beyond Zero Specialist Network is forming at a critical point for the water sector. Over the next decade, the decisions made by the water sector will determine whether net zero commitments deliver genuine impact or remain aspirational.

The conversation will continue at Ozwater’26, where the Beyond Zero Specialist Network will host a workshop titled Carbon credits or carbon cuts? Charting a practical path beyond zero in the water sector.

Bringing together senior voices from the Clean Energy Regulator, Climate Change Authority, Melbourne Water and the University of Queensland Business School, the session will unpack how the sector can move from ambition to action on net zero.

Speakers include David Parker (Chair of the Clean Energy Regulator), Nerina De Lorenzo (Managing Director of Melbourne Water), Belinda Wade (Chair in Climate Action and Ethical Transitions at the University of Queensland Business School) and Matt Kean (Chair of the Climate Change Authority) (TBC). 

Discussions will span the evolving regulatory and carbon market landscape, the challenges of measuring and reducing emissions such as methane and nitrous oxide, and the practical realities of embedding net zero into decision-making, procurement and operations. The workshop will also explore the sector’s broader role in the clean economy, including opportunities in biogas, energy generation and blue and teal carbon, offering a grounded look at how water utilities can turn intent into impact. 

Take a look at the Ozwater’26 program here.
Learn more about the Beyond Zero Specialist Network here. 
Sign up the Beyond Zero Specialist Network updates via the Member Hub.