Episode 014: MECLA - Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Building & Construction Industry with Monica Richter and Hudson Worsley

The Procurement Podcast

Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Building & Construction Industry with Monica Richter and Hudson Worsley.

In this episode of the Procurement Podcast, Andy Franks and Christophe Barriere-Varju speak with Monica Richter and Hudson Worsley to introduce MECLA and the purpose of the Alliance.

MECLA stands for Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders' Alliance which is a collaboration of organisations that have come together to drive reductions in embodied carbon in the building and construction industry.

MECLA seeks to align with the Paris Agreement targets and principles of the circular economy and recognise that the building and construction sector is a complex ecosystem.

As you listen to this podcast we will touch on some of the key MECLA initiatives such as:

1. Demonstrating a clear demand and activating supply of low embodied carbon materials.
2. Developing common language for design specifications, procurement guidelines and tendering criteria as standard practice for government agencies and companies.
3. Better understanding and/or developing where appropriate benchmarking tools, measurements, implementation guides and practice notes, such as EPDs, LCAs, BIMs, definitions, principles and simplifying tools.
4. Knowledge sharing through best practice education, case studies, myth-busting, demonstrations, and supporting innovation in materials and processes as part of a pre-competitive approach.
5. Helping to manage industry’s climate transition risks, risks associated with adopting innovative materials and the required skills development.
6. Focussing on priority materials; steel, cement and concrete, and aluminium due to their carbon intensity.

A must-listen podcast on this extremely important topic for our planet. For more information or to participate in the MECLA initiative, please contact Monica Richter at [e-mail]

Disclaimer: BvW Global and its director Christophe Barriere-Varju (Co-host of the Procurement Podcast) is a founding Partner of MECLA.

About Monica Richter

Monica Richter is an economist and social ecologist with extensive experience in environmental sustainability with an interest in the role of business in accelerating the uptake of low and zero carbon solutions.

Recent career highlights include establishing the Business Renewables Centre – Australia, deep engagement in WWF’s PandaLabs Innovation Program, and running the Science Based Targets Initiative in Australia, getting companies to set ambitious long term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets aligned with a 2oc/1.5oC pathway, in partnership with Global Compact Network Australia.

Monica recently collaborated with the NSW government and Lendlease to launch reports on the need to tackle embodied carbon in the building and construction industry and Materials Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA).

Monica is a thought leader and has been invited to participate in many forums and conferences as both a speaker and a chair. Monica is a graduate of the Future Directors program, a Board Member of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, Chair of the Mercury Centre collaborative enterprise catalyst, and board member of Pingala.

Monica Richter on LinkedIn.

About Hudson Worsley

Hudson Worsley is a co-founder of the sustainability consultancy Presync, specialising in innovative energy solutions for the property sector, climate mitigation and adaptation.

His career started as a management consultant with Arthur Andersen’s utilities team before the sustainability bug bit, and he then worked inside TransGrid's Risk and Audit Team before moving into sustainability in the development industry. He has led the sustainability team in Stockland’s residential business and in 2015 he led and wrote the City of Sydney’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

Hudson has worked in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, and holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business and Masters of Environmental Management. He led the work for Presync to become a certified BCorp in 2017.

In 2020, Hudson co-authored The Time is Now: Decarbonising Building and Construction Materials. This stakeholder research laid the foundation for the formation of MECLA, of which he is chair.

Hudson Worsley on LinkedIn.

About the Procurement Podcast

This episode is brought to you by the Procurement Podcast, with Andy Franks (BrightSky ClearMind) and Christophe Barriere-Varju (BvW Global), two passionate Procurement Consultant Professionals.

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