The Decarbonising the Building Industry (DBI) 2024 Conference serves as a vital platform for addressing the global challenge of reducing carbon emissions across the building lifecycle. On the second day of the conference, Distinguished Professor Vivian W. Y. Tam of Western Sydney University delivered a compelling keynote on achieving net-zero emissions in the construction sector. Drawing on her extensive expertise in sustainable construction and her recent projects, Professor Tam offered a comprehensive roadmap for navigating the complexities of decarbonisation.
Distinguished Professor Vivian W. Y. Tam: From Challenges to Opportunities in Achieving Net Zero
Professor Tam began her keynote by clarifying foundational concepts around net zero, carbon neutrality, and carbon negativity. She highlighted the differences between these terms, emphasizing that net zero encompasses all greenhouse gases, while carbon neutrality focuses specifically on balancing carbon emissions. This distinction underscores the need for a holistic approach to tackling emissions across the entire built environment.
She identified key barriers to achieving net zero, including political inertia, technological awareness, financial constraints, and behavioural resistance within the construction industry. One of her most compelling examples illustrated the challenges of introducing innovative recycled concrete. Initially met with resistance, her team’s persistence eventually transformed skepticism into acceptance, exemplifying how incremental behavioural changes can pave the way for broader industry adoption.
Professor Tam also shared details of her groundbreaking work on recycled aggregate concrete and its integration into updated Australian technical specifications. Highlighting the significant gap between Australia and other countries like Germany and Japan—where 100% recycled concrete has been used for high-rise buildings—she urged the industry to accelerate its adoption of such sustainable practices. Her vision extended to the need for stronger collaboration between academia, industry, and government to ensure that innovations are both commercially viable and widely implemented.
Another key aspect of her presentation was the announcement of a new ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Net Zero Building Ecosystems, which she is leading. With a funding pool of $13.5 million, this centre will focus on digital platforms, lifecycle decarbonisation techniques, and upskilling the workforce. It promises to revolutionise the construction sector by enabling modular construction, adaptive design, and advanced digital tools like IoT and blockchain.
A Call for Action and Collaboration
Professor Tam’s keynote encapsulated the essence of DBI2024: the urgent need for collective action and innovative solutions to achieve net-zero emissions. Her pragmatic approach to overcoming resistance within the construction sector was both inspiring and actionable. By fostering collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders, and leveraging technological advancements, she outlined a clear pathway to a sustainable built environment.
As the conference continues to explore strategies for decarbonising the building industry, Professor Tam’s insights serve as a beacon for the transformative potential of persistence, innovation, and collaboration. Her message reinforces the DBI Network’s mission to address the climate crisis with urgency and creativity, ensuring that the built environment evolves into a cornerstone of sustainability and resilience.
