Policy Snapshot - October 2021

20 Oct 2021

Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) comments on NCC

We have been developing our input to the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 consultation process, providing comment on the technical provisions and the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS). We support the Low Energy Buildings Trajectory on a pathway to net zero. The conclusions by the CRIS that raising building standards will make new home buyers better off were already being proven in how the industry operates. 

Our CEO, Davina Rooney, said, “Leading home builders are already building more efficient homes than what the Building Codes Board is considering – people WANT better homes that are cheaper to live in. We’re convinced that a deeper review will show that the benefits to homeowners will increase further once all assumptions are tested.” We will work constructively with industry and government to support the ongoing recognition of these benefits.

Make a submission to the NCC 2022 process View submission resources from Renew

COP26: WorldGBC announces the release of the updated Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment

Ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) released its updated Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment to include bold new requirements for addressing embodied emissions and published best practice for carbon offsetting for the built environment.

The Commitment will now require that for all new developments and major renovations, in addition to addressing operational carbon, entities must achieve maximum reductions in embodied carbon across the building lifecycle and compensate for residual upfront emissions. 

Read more

GBCA and COP26

The #BuildingToCOP26 Coalition spotlights the built environment as a critical solution through the UN’s Race to Zero campaign and the Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day. We are participating in a number of activities through WorldGBC to support the transformation of the built environment. This includes our involvement in the Built Environment Virtual Pavilion and the Built Better Now campaign at COP26. GBCA is also excited to host a series of two webinars, in which we hope to the share insights and learnings about what COP26 can mean for our region. These webinars are free for members and Future Green Leaders.

Register for the workshops Get a rundown on COP26 with GBCA's Jeff Oatman

Climate positive roadmap for precincts consultation

Following the recent launch of our Climate positive roadmap for precincts discussion paper, we are seeking your feedback to inform the first version of the Roadmap due to be released in March 2022. We welcome your thoughts on the roadmap that will set the trajectory and actions that need to happen to decarbonise precincts. Submit your feedback by Friday 10 December. 

Download the paper

Support for more research into the employment in the Australian energy industry

GBCA is supporting a call for the Australian Government to fund research into the future of the Australian energy workforce. The RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre’s proposed Australian Energy and Employment Report aligns with GBCA’s work towards a climate-positive future which will:
require innovation, capacity building and removal of barriers in energy infrastructure (in traditional networks and distributed energy)
mean growth, innovation, opportunities and more jobs in energy efficiency, energy management, renewable energy and electrification.
Building a clearer picture of the Australian energy sector and its future workforce will be useful information for our industry and a valuable resource to support the sustainable transformation of the built environment. 

Read the joint statement