The built environment needs to reduce its embodied carbon emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2035 for Australia to achieve its net zero commitments.
The figure was revealed at the launch of a new report by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) entitled Our Upfront Opportunity: Australia’s policy roadmap to reduce upfront carbon in the built environment.
The report provides a comprehensive policy framework aiming to reinforce and amplify government and industry efforts to reduce upfront embodied carbon across buildings and infrastructure.
Speaking at the event was the chair of ASBEC’s Embodied Carbon Working Group and chief impact officer at the Green Building Council of Australia, Jorge Chapa.
“Reducing embodied carbon requires a systemic approach across the built environment sector – from project decisions (e.g. adapt/reuse), to design improvements, to how we build, to investing in the decarbonisation of our supply chains,” Chapa said.
“This transformation is not an event, but a long-term process.With clear and consistent targets and policies that make reducing upfront embodied carbon a priority, the supply chain can invest in innovation to develop circular, low or zero carbon products and practices that will be in demand domestically and internationally.”
ASBEC CEO, Alison Scotland, acknowledged the challenge ahead requires true collaboration in all areas of the built environment value chain.
“There are different levels of engagement and competency within industry, but working collaboratively with government will help scale up progress and take everyone on the journey to net zero,” Scotland said.
“We are focusing on upfront embodied carbon in this project because its impacts are significant, measurable, and verifiable. More importantly, they are occurring on a large scale right now.
“While reducing carbon emissions across every life stage of an asset remains important, we believe that tackling upfront emissions provides us with immediate, actionable steps towards decarbonisation.”
This report continues the work of government and industry, mapping out a policy ecosystem that can support the consistent upfront embodied carbon measurement methodology developed by NABERS.
It outlines key recommendations for government and industry to start right now and continue the momentum over the next decade.
The first recommendation is to update the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings policy to include upfront embodied carbon measurement and reporting, and a staged approach to mandating minimum standards. Develop an aligned, nationally consistent policy approach for the infrastructure sector.
Increase and continue investment in aligned national framework and tools to baseline, measure, benchmark, disclose, and reduce embodied carbon through a unified methodology and common database. These need to be consistent across commercial property, residential and infrastructure.
The report calls for action to support Australian manufacturers and provide market drivers to reduce the embodied carbon of their materials and products via support for technology transitions and low-emissions manufacturing practices.
This includes disclosing the embodied carbon of their materials and products through trusted and verified processes such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
There is also a call to prioritise a re-use, repurpose, or “retrofit-first” approach through brownfield development projects, infrastructure renewals, and major retrofits of existing structures. This includes reforming and aligning planning policies and development strategies.
Demonstrate leadership by updating government funding, tender and procurement requirements or processes to include embodied carbon minimum standards, and transition towards fossil-fuel free transport and construction processes.
Build capability, awareness and skills by developing aligned training and education materials, and professional development, across the construction sector and its value chain, including practical guidance for reducing embodied carbon and achieving more with fewer resources.
Resource the inclusion of a minimum standard for upfront carbon for all new commercial buildings in NCC 2028 using NABERS methodology, with increases to minimum standards over time. There is also a need to start collecting aligned data on residential buildings and to consider a simplified calculator to assist residential design decisions.
Implement policies that secure a level playing field for Australian manufacturers of building and construction products, underpinned by consistent and comparable emissions data in line with international standards, and incentivise low carbon products made or re-made, in Australia.
Recognising that tackling upfront carbon in the built environment provides immediate emissions savings and huge opportunities for Australian industry, ASBEC’s report includes policy levers that will help to reduce the upfront embodied carbon of Australia’s built environment in the next five to 10 years.
“While the strategies put in place might differ between commercial property, residential buildings and infrastructure, we share the same value chains and will all achieve benefits from a unified approach,” Scotland concluded.