MECLA

Aggregating demand

and activating the supply of materials which meet the needs of net zero carbon goals

Managing industry’s climate transition risk

associated with adopting innovative materials and required skills development

Defining best practice

embodied carbon evaluation framework

Join MECLA

A collaboration of organisations coming together to drive reductions in embodied carbon in the building and construction industry. We seek to align with the Paris Agreement targets and principles of the circular economy and recognise that the building and construction sector is a complex ecosystem.

Initiative objectives

Reduction of scope 3 emissions by 12.5-25% by 2030
By 2030, all new buildings, infrastructure and renovations will have at least 40% less embodied carbon with significant upfront carbon reduction
By end 2022, to be on track to deliver at least 10% less embodied carbon with significant upfront carbon reduction
More than 10% Capital Expenditure for major infrastructure and building projects is covered by relevant certification/accreditations rating schemes (namely Green Star and ISCA) that include embodied carbon reduction commitments as a criteria
Minimum carbon emissions reduction rate of 1Mt/year by 2030 by reducing scope 3 emissions in construction materials including steel, cement and aluminium (this is equivalent to 2% of Australia’s current emissions on a year on year basis)

Why is this initiative needed?

The built environment sector including the cities and towns we live and work in is responsible for one-quarter of Australia’s greenhouse emissions. Globally, the steel, cement and aluminium industries alone each produce about 7-9% of annual global greenhouse emissions. All these materials are used extensively in the building and construction of our homes, the places we visit and the roads

Embodied carbon is the total greenhouse emissions generated during the manufacture of the materials and products used in the construction and refurbishment of new and existing buildings and infrastructure. There is an urgency around embodied carbon to reduce the greenhouse footprint of these materials but it requires collaboration and leadership.

Reducing the emissions intensity of those sectors will be fundamental to achieving a zero-carbon economy. By bringing different sectors together across the building and construction supply chain we can collectively gain a better understanding of barriers to uptake and find the solutions that will be vital to moving ahead.

How will the Initiative fill this gap?

Demonstrating the demand and activating the supply of materials which meet the needs of net zero carbon goals.
Defining a best practice embodied carbon evaluation framework
Knowledge sharing through best practice education, case studies, myth-busting, demonstrations, and supporting innovation in materials and processes as part of a pre-competitive approach.
Developing common language for design specifications, procurement guidelines and tendering criteria as standard practice for government agencies and companies.
Helping to manage industry’s climate transition risks, risks associated with adopting innovative materials and the required skills development.
Supporting materials such as steel, cement and concrete, aluminium, and other materials such as timber, glass, brick and others, to reduce their carbon intensity and giving visibility to other low carbon and innovative materials.
Educating and scaling demand for low carbon material in building services and systems.

What is Climate-KIC Australia’s role?

Climate-KIC Australia are currently co-convening the MECLA project by providing portfolio governance and management, as well as project oversight that enables the ecosystem. We work in collaboration with our partners to affect levers of change (including policy, technology, demand and capability) that will enable the built environment sector to reduce scope 3 emissions in construction materials including steel, cement and aluminium in Australia by 12.5-25% by 2030.