Climate Action Week Sydney begins next week, with over 180 events being delivered across the city exploring a broad range of topics including sustainability in the built environment. We'll be attending events around town over the course of the next few weeks and hope to see you at some of them. March is going to be a busy month!
In this newsletter you can:
check out some events organised by our partners and members
If you are interested to hear more about MECLA and how you can join the growing MECLA network, book yourself an appointment with members of our secretariat who can answer all your questions.
Spotlight on Navigating the World of Embodied Carbon
17 March 2025 at 2:00pm – 3:00pm AEDT - online
Join us for a MECLA Spotlight introducing several new tools and resources you and your organisation can leverage to navigate the world of embodied carbon in Australia.
In this event MECLA introduces Minoro, an online tool to help people achieve embodied carbon savings along a project lifecycle. The MECLA Australian State-of-Play is also made public, a document that briefs people on Australian federal and state policy, strategy, and Australian guidance documents.
Watch the recording of our annual MECLA Community Event to hear what MECLA achieved in 2024 and where our work will be taking us in 2025. MECLA chair Hudson Worsley presents on planned deliveries and events for the year, and individual working group chairs answer open questions on their programmes.
In true MECLA-style, the event was interactive and open. Watch the recording of the presentation and lively conversations on our website!
Level 3, Building 8, University of Technology Sydney
The global shift to a just, resilient, and regenerative future is unstoppable. Political shifts and regulatory changes can create uncertainty. But the reality is that markets, industries, and communities are already driving the transition forward, and no single leader or government can reverse this momentum.
Investment in clean energy is at record highs, major economies are embedding climate action into their growth strategies, and technological advancements are making decarbonisation more efficient and accessible than ever. Policy decisions will shape the speed and fairness of this transition, but they won’t stop it.
This event will explore how climate action continues to accelerate despite political shifts, why systemic approaches ensure long-term progress, and what Australia must do to stay at the forefront of this transformation.
Speakers:
Dr. Wes Morgan, Research Associate at Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW – Global climate trends and their impact on Australia
Ann Austin, Director at ESG Consulting – Industry momentum and the construction sector
Dr. Simon Bradshaw, Research Director at Climate-KIC Australia – The role of systems innovation in ensuring sustained climate progress
Blair Palese, Director at Ethinvest Philanthropy - Finance and other mechanisms for change
Climate Action Week - Australia's Opportunity as a True Green Iron Manufacturer
Monday 10 March at 4pm AEDT,
Greenhouse, Level 3, Salesforce Tower
Australia has a unique opportunity to position itself as a global leader in green iron manufacturing. With abundant renewable energy resources, high-quality iron ore reserves, and a strong industrial base, Australia is well-placed to develop a competitive green iron industry that supports both domestic economic growth and global emissions reduction efforts. By leveraging policy support, innovative financing mechanisms, and sustainable industrial practices, Australia can not only reduce its own carbon footprint but also become a key supplier of low-emission iron to international markets. However, significant challenges remain, including the need for infrastructure investment, supply chain transformation, and community engagement.
This event, hosted during Sydney Climate Action Week by World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia and Greenhouse, brings together leading experts, policymakers, and industry representatives to explore the opportunities and challenges of developing a sustainable green iron industry. Join us for an insightful discussion on the policies, financing mechanisms, and industry innovations required to drive Australia’s green iron transition. The event will feature key presentations and panel discussions highlighting both the headwinds and tailwinds in advancing Australia’s green iron road.
Speaker Line-Up:
MC: Monica Richter, Senior Manager Low Carbon Futures at WWF-Australia and Director of Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance.
Georgine Roodenrys – Partner, Climate and Sustainability at Deloitte
Nicole Wyche - Industry Decarbonisation Manager at WWF-Australia
Jun Tong – Principal at Mandala
Elizabeth Thurbon - Professor at UNSW Sydney and Director of Green Energy Statekraft Project
Rachel Howard – Director of Industrial Decarbonisation at Mission Possible Partnership
Tim Buckley – Director at Climate Energy Finance
Jessica Shaw - Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade (WA)
James Choi – Managing Director at J2 Advisory
Richard Andrews - Chief Executive Officer, Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee (AJBCC) Committee
Hannah Jones – Sustainability Lead at Taylor Thomson & Whitting and MECLA Steel Working Group
Satya Tanner – Managing Director at LAUTEC Group
Matthew Cooke - Queensland First Nations Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Neville Plint – CEO of Mining3
Allan Kane - Director of Sustainability at Magnetite Mines
Climate Action Week - Designing Towards Absolute Zero Carbon
Thursday 13 March 3:30pm AEDT
UTS Balcony Room
A joint presentation from Atelier Ten, Robert Bird Group, and SMEC, on driving building design towards absolute zero carbon. The difference between net vs absolute zero and operational vs embodied carbon will be reviewed, along with the industry’s current capabilities. Operational absolute zero carbon is achievable, but embodied carbon will be a challenge. The framework of “use less stuff” and certification pathways that are driving change will be discussed along with supportive case studies.
The presentation will be from 3:30pm-4:00pm, after which we will open the discussion to the floor for Q&A, open dialogue, and networking until 5:00pm. Come join us for a fruitful discussion!
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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