Infrastructure Australia's Embodied Carbon Projections: A Pathway to Decarbonising Australia's Built Environment

Infrastructure Australia recently released its report on Embodied Carbon Projections for Australian Infrastructure and Buildings, providing vital insights into the nation's carbon footprint within the construction sector. This report is part of a broader effort to support the Australian Government's decarbonisation objectives.

The data, sourced from the Market Capacity program, establishes a baseline for the upfront embodied carbon in Australia's built environment. According to the findings, construction activities are projected to produce between 37 and 64 million tonnes of CO? equivalent (CO?e) annually over the next five years, totaling 247 Mt of CO?e by the end of the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Encouragingly, the report indicates that approximately 23% of these emissions could be mitigated through practical decarbonisation strategies by 2026-2027. This highlights a significant opportunity for the construction sector to contribute to Australia's broader climate goals.

To achieve these reductions, Infrastructure Australia has outlined six key recommendations for the Australian Government:

1. National Decarbonisation Plan: Develop a comprehensive plan to promote decarbonisation within the built environment, emphasizing the reduction of embodied carbon.
2. Low Carbon Literacy: Enhance confidence and understanding of low carbon products and solutions, facilitating their adoption across the industry.
3. Standardised Measurement System: Implement a nationally standardised system for measuring embodied carbon, ensuring consistent data collection and assessment practices.
4. Market Demand for Low Carbon Solutions: Establish a common national approach to stimulate demand for low carbon products and technologies.
5. Innovative Project Delivery: Develop new methods for project delivery that share risks and rewards, encouraging innovative approaches to reducing carbon emissions.
6. Performance-Based Standards: Collaborate with industry to align on low-carbon expectations through performance-based standards and specifications, and expedite the process for updating them.

These recommendations serve as a roadmap for Australia's journey toward a more sustainable and environmentally responsible built environment. By adopting these strategies, the nation can significantly reduce its embodied carbon emissions and support global climate action efforts.

Source: Embodied Carbon Projections for Australian Infrastructure and Buildings | Infrastructure Australia