Find out more
BUILD YOUR OWN
RESOURCE LIBRARY
Podcasts
Podcast: Using mobility data to shape the future of citiesSponsored by TomTom
Podcast: Building resilient cities: trustworthy AI, digital twins, and urban innovation at YII 2025Sponsored by Bentley Systems
Opinions
Smart lighting: enabling smart cities beyond illuminationSponsored by Paradox Engineering
How AI and biometrics are shaping next-generation mobility paymentsSponsored by ST Engineering
Canberra tackles embodied carbon emissions
Government of the Australian Capital Territory is establishing a nationally consistent approach to measuring emissions in the commercial construction sector.
The Australian city of Canberra has secured agreement at a national meeting of building ministers to establish a nationally consistent approach to measuring emissions in the commercial construction sector.
Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction at the Government of the Australian Capital Territory, Rebecca Vassarotti, said the new nationally consistent approach will provide “the right foundations” to reaching net-zero carbon in the construction of new commercial buildings.
Overall carbon emissions
“Tackling the climate crisis head on demands a spotlight on every part of our economy contributing to the ongoing destruction of the planet,” said Minister Vassarotti.
“Across Australia, new buildings represent 10 per cent of overall carbon emissions. Most of these emissions come from the materials, transport and construction associated with new buildings.
“As the climate gets hotter and as our energy demands increase, a building’s ability to withstand extreme weather events will become paramount to the health and safety of the people in it”
“Currently, there is no national standard for measuring what we call ‘embodied carbon’, that is, the emissions that come from building materials, transport, construction, repairs, and renovations.
“That’s why I have proposed updates to the National Construction Code to bring every state and territory under the same system to start measuring carbon emissions in construction of commercial buildings.
Read More
Vassarotti said establishing a nationally consistent approach to measuring emissions is the first step to empowering governments across the nation to develop robust action plans to effectively combat and reduce emissions within the sector.
It will also support the construction industry by providing a single national approach, removing confusion and administrative costs from potentially having to comply with multiple schemes.
“This work complements efforts already underway in the ACT to develop a 10-year pathway towards achieving the world’s best practice, sustainable buildings,” added Vassarotti.
“As the climate gets hotter and as our energy demands increase, a building’s ability to withstand extreme weather events will become paramount to the health and safety of the people in it.
“I am committed to a legacy where our buildings within the territory are high-performing, affordable, and work with, not against, the natural environment for years to come.”
Why not try these links to see what our SmartCitiesWorld AI can tell you.
(Please note this is an experimental service)
How will a national standard improve measuring embodied carbon emissions?What benefits arise from a unified approach to commercial building emissions?How can updated construction codes reduce carbon emissions in new buildings?In what ways will resilient buildings enhance safety during extreme weather?How does measuring embodied carbon support sustainable building practices?
Latest City Profile
Latest Special Report
SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)
You may also like these related articles...
BECOME A MEMBER
© 2025 SmartCitiesWorld
Smart Cities World Ltd, 27 Clements Lane, London, EC4N 7AE