What Climate Active Certified means to NBRS

Our journey to carbon neutrality certification officially commenced in October 2022 before the formal conception of the Brisbane office; we acknowledge the Climate emergency and our obligations as a collective to contribute to a better world for the next generations and biodiversity. It is invaluable to understand our impact by quantifying our organisational footprint, then showing our advocacy through reduction strategies, and lastly demonstrating custodianship and care through 100% Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) with both social and environmental co-benefits including promoting indigenous practices and improving biodiversity and health of the local ecosystem.

The benefits of carbon neutrality certification include directly reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and minimise adverse effects from climate change. In addition, reducing our carbon footprint can create a more sustainable future for ourselves, our children, our communities, and our biodiversity. At the same time, the carbon neutrality initiative reflects our corporate vision and identity.

Organisational reduction strategies towards net zero.
Our emission boundary included Accommodation, Air Transport, products and services, Cleaning, Electricity, Land and Sea Transport (fuel), Office equipment & supplies, Postage, courier, Professional Services, Stationary, Energy, Waste, Water, Working from home and ICT services and equipment.

1. 9-Day-Fortnight Initiatives aims to create work-life balance by closing the office on Fridays fortnightly (same days for the entire company) and to reduce GHG emissions associated with energy consumption, water, waste, and transportation by 10% due to a 10% reduction in the number of working days. In addition, this year, we seek to program lights and HVAC to be turned off automatically on non-working days.
2. By FY26, targets a 50% reduction by switching to Green energy, exceeding the Science Based Targets initiative's 1.5°C pathway, not relying solely on the projected grid decarbonisation. We are actively investigating a transition to renewable energy through a Power Purchase Agreement or voluntarily surrendering Large-scale Generation Certificates. In addition, we are currently exploring opportunities to improve our tenancy's base building energy efficiency in collaboration with our landlords.
3. We seek opportunities to purchase emissions-free, lower emissions, carbon-neutral products and services by assessing major suppliers for sector best practices, including Climate Active certified suppliers.
4. Further rationalisation of business flights and encourage staff use of public transportation.
5. Educating employees, clients, and trade partners to reduce individual and project impacts through conference, seminar and webinar presentations.

Our offsets for the financial year 2021-22 provide social and environmental co-benefits directly to Australians with 100% ACCUs.

1. Central Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (CALFA) Project, Northern Territory. Cool burning is a traditional land management practice involving controlled burning to prevent large wildfires, significantly reducing carbon emissions while improving ecosystem health.
2. Paroo River North Environmental Project, Queensland. Changes to agricultural processes on the Yerrel and Humeburn Station promote the regrowth of the native forest while protecting local wetlands and river systems.
3. Darling River Eco Corridor #30, New South Wales. The Darling River Eco-Corridor carbon project suite covers over 150,000 hectares of rural land throughout North-Western New South Wales and South West Queensland. The projects aim to protect and regenerate forests on properties in the upper catchments of the Darling River, which supports a unique and fragile ecosystem.
4. Moombidary Forest Regeneration Project, Queensland. Strategy including grazing reduction and tree protection, this revegetation project helps restore local ecosystems, remove carbon from the atmosphere and provide meaningful indigenous employment.

Furthermore, Key strategies for projects to achieve carbon neutrality.
Our Sustainability Action Plan and framework further assist us in extending our ESG action beyond our organisation. Through projects, we focus on long-term thinking through circularity, healthy materials, efficiency, building science, biophilia, biodiversity, social equity, inclusivity, and carbon (embodied and operational) perspectives.

1. Incorporate a high-performance building envelope, including thermal performance, airtightness, and thermal bridging minimisation to ensure energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
2. Incorporate appropriate passive and active design strategies to ensure low energy, optimal daylighting, view, longevity, and low maintenance.
3. Incorporate water-sensitive urban design principles, including water conservation.
4. Adopt practices to minimise demolition, construction, and operational waste, including diverting at least 80% of demolition and construction waste away from landfill.
5. Incorporate healthy materials with as low as possible environmental impacts, including minimisation of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde emissions with a preference for products and materials with Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), recycled contents and certified timber products.
6. Incorporate biophilic, healthy, equitable design.
7. Facilitate social procurement.
8. Encourage sustainable finance through life cycle assessment, innovation, and long-term visions.
9. Encourage official certification to strengthen implementation with the assistance of our in-house knowledge and strong industry connection through rating systems, including Green Star, Living Building Challenge, WELL and Passivhaus.

Shanica Saenrak Hall, National Sustainability Lead, Architect, GSAP, LFA, WELL AP, CPHD and LEED Green Associate.

Her current involvements, including.

• GBCA's Green Star's 'People and Wellbeing' Expert Reference Panel
• Australian Institute of Architects' Environment Advisory Group
• IWBI WELL Community Concept Advisor (previously Health Equity Advisor)
• Living future institute of Australia's Technical Working Group, Beauty Petal Lead
• International Living Future Institute's Regional Member Community Australia Lead
• Melbourne Regenerative Design Forum's Steering Committee