With the aim of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, South Australia’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport has published its Sustainable Procurement Policy.
The policy establishes a requirement that an embodied carbon target is now a minimum for tenders. Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. One group, the Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA), has hosted a think-tank event to attract an audience keen to network and hear about leadership in embodied carbon.
A who’s who of attendees included speakers: Department of Infrastructure and Transport representative, Jen Slocombe, who talked through the government’s policies and foreshadowed the possibility of the sustainable procurement requirement; Jodie Bricout, Circular Economy Australian lead at AURECON; Cathy Chesson, Australian Climate Change Practice Leader at Mott MacDonald; as well as innovative materials manufacturers Xframe, which is working in the circular economy construction technology field; and Hallett Group, which is developing a “green cement” processing plant at Port Augusta, 310 km north of Adelaide.
On the table for discussion is how the government recognises it is crucial to procure low-carbon goods and services to reduce the carbon footprint and help drive the transition to a low-carbon economy. As well as additional policy requirements such as, “We may request suppliers to provide emissions data: upfront during the tender stage to help us make comparisons, [and] during delivery to enable tracking and reporting of emissions.”
Monica Richter, Senior Manager, Low Carbon Futures at WWF-Australia and Project Director at MECLA, said, “South Australia is definitely punching above its weight when it comes to achieving its ambitious clean energy, clean industries pathways, and we look forward to watching its unfolding of a nature-positive program of action as well – something we can all learn from.”
While South Australia is doing some heavy lifting in the clean energy space, we are proud of the efforts some New South Wales and Victorian councils are putting in to ensure their constituents can rely on clean energy for years to come.
Our mutually beneficial 10-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) have been carefully negotiated and designed to assist councils in achieving their sustainable procurement goals.
