GBCA releases nature roadmap to guide future developments

MEDIA RELEASE March 17: Latest news from Green Building Council of Australia

The Green Building Council of Australia has released a new nature roadmap for the built environment, setting out clear targets and timeframes to help the built environment protect, restore and regenerate nature.

The roadmap responds to growing expectations that planning, design and construction play a more active role in addressing nature loss, not just minimising harm. It establishes trajectories for new buildings that will help developers plan future projects in line with emerging expectations.

GBCA Chief Executive Officer Davina Rooney said nature is increasingly shaping planning and development decisions.

"Nature is playing a much more central role in how developments are planned, delivered and assessed," Ms Rooney said.

"This roadmap sets out a level of detail and commitment we have not seen before, with clear targets and timeframes that show what needs to change and allow progress to be tracked."

The roadmap identifies five key challenges affecting nature outcomes, including fragmented policy, accelerating development in biodiverse areas, low circularity, resource-intensive construction, and long-standing underinvestment in nature.

In response, it sets out five core principles that, if followed by all new developments, will help put the built environment on a path toward improved nature outcomes. The principles aim to prevent further nature loss, restore and reconnect ecosystems, increase circularity and urban infill, prioritise lower-impact materials, and invest in nature restoration.

Each principle is supported by specific targets across near, medium and long-term timeframes, including milestones in 2028, 2030 and 2035, and a long-term direction to 2050.

The roadmap provides a practical framework to help industry understand expectations early, make better decisions through the development process, and track progress over time.

It also translates the targets and goals of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into practical guidance for the Australian built environment.

GBCA Chief Impact Officer, Jorge Chapa said the roadmap is designed to help industry respond to rapidly evolving expectations around nature.

"This roadmap provides a clear direction of travel for the sector and translates global biodiversity ambitions into practical guidance for the built environment," Mr Chapa said.

"It shows how industry can start acting today while also preparing for the standards that will evolve over time, including through future updates to Green Star."

Mr Chapa said the roadmap also highlights the importance of circularity and smarter use of resources in the built environment.

"One of the key insights is the need to reduce pressure on nature by increasing circularity across the built environment – reusing materials, reducing waste and supporting more compact urban development," Mr Chapa said.

"These priorities are already being embedded in Green Star, including new circularity credits in Green Star Buildings v1.1 that support better use of materials and resources."

The nature roadmap builds on more than four years of GBCA work on nature and biodiversity, informed by consultation with industry, government, finance and First Nations stakeholders.

The work has been guided by GBCA's Nature Advisory Panel, which brings together expertise from development, infrastructure, materials, government and sustainability.

The roadmap has received positive feedback from international and finance-aligned organisations, recognising its depth, structure and alignment with emerging global frameworks.

Cristina Gamboa, CEO, WorldGBC said the built environment has a critical role to play in addressing nature loss and strengthening how developments interact with natural systems.

"GBCA's Nature Positive Roadmap is a strong example of how global biodiversity ambitions can be translated into clear, practical guidance for industry," Ms Gamboa said.

"By setting specific, time‑bound targets across five areas recognising the multiple ways developments interact with nature, this work offers a valuable reference point for Australia's built environment — and contributes to the growing body of leadership emerging across Green Building Councils globally."

Nicole Yazbek-Martin, Executive Manager at the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute said the nature roadmap is compatible with existing sustainability frameworks and expectations.

"It provides a useful reference point for investors with a particular interest in nature-related considerations and supports current finance sector practice," Ms Yazbek-Martin said.

Ms Rooney said collaboration will remain central as the roadmap is implemented.

"This will continue to evolve as we learn from delivery and work together to improve outcomes across the sector," Ms Rooney said.

A Nature Positive Roadmap for the built environment: Trajectories for new developments is available now on the GBCA website >>

Contact information:
Megan Towill
Senior Manager – Communications and Media

Green Building Council of Australia
0433 885 719 | | www.gbca.org.au

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About GBCA
Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is the nation's authority on sustainable buildings and communities. Our mission is to accelerate the transformation of Australia's built environment into one that is healthy, liveable, productive, resilient and sustainable. We work with industry and government to encourage policies and programs that support our mission. We educate thousands of people each year on how to design and deliver sustainable outcomes for Australia's buildings and communities. And we operate Australia's largest national, voluntary, holistic rating system for sustainable buildings and communities - Green Star. www.gbca.org.au