A recent report from thinkstep has identified opportunities to decarbonise New Zealand’s building and construction sector by 40% with a focus on embodied emissions from now until 2050.

The strategies set out in the report, Under construction: Hidden emissions and untapped potential of buildings for New Zealand’s 2050 zero carbon goal, have been estimated to save approximately 1,200 kt CO2e per year – equivalent to taking 460,000 passenger cars off the road permanently and 15% of New Zealand’s total light vehicle fleet.

Steel and concrete were found to be the they key materials contributing to embodied GHG emissions in New Zealand. Aluminium was also found to be significant for non-residential construction, and timber framing was identified as a significant material for residential construction.

thinkstep recommends that a collaborative effort be pursued to achieve or exceed the 40% decarbonisation potential identified in the report. The report identified that decarbonising the built environment will require:

• Collaboration among all players in the building sector;
• Communication of good information and data;
• Innovation in the manufacturing sector
• Policy development encouraging the use of materials with low embodied carbon.

More information here