27 Mar 2025
We are still on a high from TRANSFORM 2025 – our biggest conference yet. The mood in the room was unshakeable: positivity paired with pragmatism, and resolute determination to stay the course.
Despite the shifting political and economic landscape, the message from industry leaders and international speakers was clear – momentum towards net zero is unstoppable.
Lendlease’s Chief Operating Officer Dale O’Connor set the tone early: “Nothing gets built without capital, and capital is still demanding sustainable outcomes,” he said. One proof point? Lendlease’s new Salesforce Tower is 100% tenanted, driven by strong net zero commitments.
US Green Building Council CEO Peter Templeton echoed this sentiment. Yes, the US federal government has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement. But 24 states – representing more than half the US population – have declared: “We’re still in.” Commitment hasn’t wavered, Peter said, because the value of net zero buildings, communities and cities is irrefutable.
Singaporean sustainability powerhouse Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer of City Developments Limited, reinforced this global alignment. ESG is a top priority in ASEAN countries, she said. Leaders are scaling up their ambition by looking beyond carbon to address biodiversity, waste and water efficiency.
Circularity was a golden thread running through TRANSFORM 2025, and a recap of the key discussion points is featured in this month’s Green Building Voice. But the biggest takeaway for me was not content – it was connection. Collaboration is one of the GBCA’s core pillars and TRANSFORM 2025 underscored that our industry is united and moving forward with momentum behind us.
This week’s Federal Budget confirms this momentum with commitments that include:
These measures are welcome. While the 2025–26 Budget doesn’t introduce major new initiatives, we have worked closely with the Albanese Government over the past few years on the recommendations outlined in Every Building Counts. Nearly 50% – 19 of 39 recommendations – are already on a pathway to implementation.
There’s more work to do. We’ll be closely watching the upcoming election campaign for commitments that support NABERS, the Australian Building Codes Board and other critical measures to support a sustainable and energy-efficient built environment.
And we’ll be looking for the Coalition’s commitment through the Budget Reply. The original launch of Every Building Counts in 2019 was with then Energy Minister Angus Taylor, and bipartisan support for net zero buildings is critical for continued progress.
Yes, the policy landscape is shifting. Yes, there are economic headwinds. But as we heard loud and clear at TRANSFORM 2025, the net zero destination remains unchanged.
Our role is to provide clarity and connection points for our industry – to ensure that the path forward is unclouded. There’s fog on the horizon, but we are determined to be a beacon that guides Australia towards net zero.