The Australian Institute of Architects has called on the federal government to commit $1 billion fund to prioritize decarbonizing the built environment in its pre-budget submission.
The submission highlights the need for investment in efficient infrastructure, with specific measures to improve accessibility, sustainability and disaster resilience.
The Institute submitted that the government should commit $1 billion over four years to accelerate the construction of low-carbon developments.
National president Tony Giannone said such an initiative is vital if the government is to achieve its targeted net-zero emissions by 2050.
“The Australian Government has committed to net zero by 2050 but leaders have not been clear on how we will achieve it,” said Giannone. “Decarbonizing the built environment is an important way to achieve these critical goals, given it contributes about one-quarter of our [national] emissions.”
According to the submission, the investment would be managed by and delivered through the Clean Energy Corporation.
The Institute has proposed an additional $6 million in funding for the Australian Building Codes to upgrade the requirements of the National Construction Code to support the integration of low energy buildings.
The submission also recommends addressing First Nations housing as a high priority. The Institute has suggested a $4 billion fund to deliver 8,000 new social housing residences to address the chronic underfunding and undersupply of housing for Indigenous peoples.
“Housing is a right,” said Giannone. “We must do more and better to provide a level playing field for our First Nations peoples and the very basics of that includes safe and secure housing.”
Other federal budget recommendations include $50 million to fund the Australian Climate Services to develop national datasets and detailed maps of natural disaster and climate events to mitigate future impact.
“With climate change, this is going to happen more often and with greater severity. An investment now in our future resilience will save millions in damage costs – and heartache – down the track,” said Giannone.
Click here to view the full 2022-23 pre-budget submission.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
