A new financial year already? Oh My! Find MECLA updates for June and July below. Several exciting things have been happening in the MECLAverse, including:
AIRAH / MECLA Deep Dive on the role of building services and facades in tackling embodied carbon
Our recent AMRF Tour with Hassell at the First Building in Bradfield City
Roughly a month ago MECLA launched Phase 4 of the Alliance, the next steps for MECLA's ambition to drive embodied carbon reductions in industry. We hosted an event and answered your questions on what these next steps for MECLA look like, and you can now watch the replay of that event on our website.
As you may know, MECLA's current government and industry funding is coming to a close. Over the past four years, large strides have been made towards addressing embodied carbon in the built environment in Australia. However, there is still a lot of work left to be done, and we believe that MECLA still has a role to play in driving emissions reductions in the built environment across the country.
For MECLA to continue working we need your support. As of 1 July 2025, MECLA will enter into Phase 4 and target a multiple source funding model to continue the Alliance's systems thinking approach to the embodied carbon challenge across different jurisdictions and sectors in Australia. Alongside government funding, we are asking for a yearly financial contribution from all industry members to continue to benefit from MECLA's working groups, broader network, resources and events.
Phase 4 will also mark a departure from how MECLA has historically operated, and lead to a series of changes in how the network functions. Keep your eyes open for an email from us in the coming weeks! You can access our Phase 4 slide deck on the website below or contact us for more information about membership.
AIRAH / MECLA Deep Dive on the role of building services and facades in tackling embodied carbon
Recent advancements have improved understanding of embodied carbon in building materials, but significant knowledge gaps remain in building services and facades. Their complexity, supply chains, stakeholder coordination, and data limitations contribute to this issue. Building services and facades are often overlooked in embodied carbon discussions. HVAC, refrigeration, fire safety, escalators, lifts, lighting, and facades contribute substantial upfront and whole-of-life embodied carbon due to maintenance. Building services account for 15 per cent of upfront carbon and 30 per cent of whole-of-life carbon in commercial buildings, while facades contribute 10–20 per cent. Together, they represent 25–50 per cent of upfront carbon and 50 per cent of whole-of-life embodied carbon. Unlike structural elements, building services require periodic replacement, adding carbon costs, while facades pose maintenance challenges. The complexity of materials and manufacturing complicates carbon calculations, requiring a holistic approach to optimize savings. Australia is advancing this conversation through methodologies like TM65, integrated into Green Star’s Responsible Products and Upfront Carbon framework, with industry innovation driving reductions. Hosted by the Waterfront Brisbane project by Dexus and Aurecon, the MECLA Deep Dive on Building Services and Facades will bring industry leaders together to address embodied carbon challenges.
Speakers included:
Matthew Beasley, Project Director at Dexus
Caitlin Clarke, Assistant Development Manager at Dexus
Patrick Campbell, National Operations Sustainability Manager for Buildings, Infrastructure and Major Projects at John Holland
John Bourne, Senior Engineer and Leader Sustainability at A.G. Coombs Advisory
On Thusday this week MECLA members toured the fantastic new AMRF building designed by Hassell Architects for the new Bradfield City. Bradfield City is the first new city in Australia in over 100 years, and this building is the first of many to be developed next to Sydney's new Western Sydney Airport.
MECLA members learned about the mass timber modular design innovation of the building's structure and the ways in which the landscaping integrated indigenous knowledges. The building is designed to serve as a centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing research and collaboration, integrating industry and academia.
Hear more about the tour and see photos on our LinkedIn!
Webinar: Transport Portfolio CircleZero Hub with WALGA and MECLA
The Transport Portfolio with WALGA are pleased to announce the launch of CircleZero: the Transport Portfolio’s new sustainability knowledge hub in partnership with MECLA and Climate-KIC. As a Portfolio, WA Government is committed to meeting the State Government’s target of an 80 per cent reduction in emissions from 2020 by 2030 and net zero by 2050, across infrastructure and transport networks.
CircleZero provides an online platform for the Portfolio to collaborate with industry, government and the community to share information, resources and learnings to meet the state’s long-term goals. The hub supports the implementation of the Transport Portfolio Sustainable Infrastructure Policy by promoting the uptake of sustainable resources and decarbonising transport infrastructure using low carbon and zero emission materials.
Register to attend the CircleZero Webinar launch on 30 July!
MECLA is all about transparency, and that means including most of the presenations given to the MECLA working groups on our website for you to access.
We've had a slew of excellent presenations in the working groups recently, including in WG1 - Subgroup Local Councils where recent MECLA members Merri-bek City Council presented to us on Low Carbon Construction for local councils and their use of mass timber and material re-use.
In WG3/4we heard a MECLA case study - Durra Panel® "LBC Red List Approved" Declare® label that includes optional Embodied Carbon disclosure.
You can find all our MECLA Resources on our MECLA Resources Page or by clicking on the style of resource you are looking for directly below.
If your organisation has a case study please consider sharing it with us. You can submit a case study on the MECLA Website. Each submitted case study will be screened by the MECLA Project Control Group (PCG) before being featured on this website.
You can find out more about MECLA by going to our website, by signing up to our newsletter or following us on LinkedIn to stay updated on future events and developments.
As always, email us with any questions and enquiries at info@mecla.org.au.
MECLA is funded through a mixture of industry and government commitments. We would like to thank all industry organisations, plus the NSW and SA Government that have already made a contribution to support MECLA going national.
MECLA c/o Climate-KIC Australia, University of Technology Sydney, Building 10, Level 10, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
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