The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has unveiled a landmark nature roadmap for the built environment, setting rigorous targets to transition the industry from “minimising harm” to actively regenerating ecosystems. The framework translates the goals of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into practical milestones for developers, with critical deadlines set for 2028, 2030, and 2035.
The roadmap addresses five core systemic failures: fragmented policy, development in biodiverse regions, low circularity, resource-heavy construction, and chronic underinvestment in nature. To counter these, the GBCA has established five principles requiring new developments to prevent nature loss, restore connected ecosystems, and prioritise lower-impact, circular materials.
“Nature is playing a much more central role in how developments are planned, delivered and assessed,” said GBCA Chief Executive Officer Davina Rooney. “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.”
A central pillar of the strategy is the reduction of environmental pressure through increased circularity. Jorge Chapa, GBCA’s Chief Impact Officer, noted that reusing materials and supporting compact urban infill are essential to the transition. These priorities are already being integrated into the Green Star rating system, including new circularity credits in the latest version of the building standards.
The initiative has gained international backing and alignment with the finance sector. Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council, described the roadmap as a “strong example” of how global biodiversity ambitions can be converted into industry guidance. Supporting this, Nicole Yazbek-Martin of the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute confirmed the framework is compatible with investor expectations and current finance practice.
As the industry prepares for a 2050 long-term vision of a nature-positive built environment, Ms Rooney emphasised that the strategy would remain adaptive. “This will continue to evolve as we learn from delivery and work together to improve outcomes across the sector,” she said.
