Strategy 2030 and beyond
For over 25 years, the Green Building Council of Australia’s purpose has been to lead the sustainable transformation of the built environment.
The next decade will be one of the most important in Australia's history.
Our 2030 and beyond strategy sets out how we’ll build on that legacy over the next four years and accelerate progress towards a climate resilient and positive, circular, nature positive, healthy built environment by 2035.
By 2035, we want Australia’s built environment to be recognised globally for creating places that are climate positive, circular, nature positive, healthy and resilient, guided by connection to Country. This four year strategy puts us in the best position to achieve this, setting out the priorities that will guide our work to 2030 and lay the foundations for the five years that follow.
Leading the sustainable transformation of Australia’s built environment
For over 25 years, GBCA has helped to transform Australia’s built environment by setting sustainability benchmarks, building capability, influencing policy and bringing industry together. While the challenges facing our sector continue to evolve, our purpose remains unchanged.
Our 2035 targets: The future we’re working towards
Climate resilient and
positive places
All-electric, efficient, climate-resilient buildings powered by renewable energy and built with 60% less upfront carbon.
Nature
positive places
All developments deliver at least a 10% biodiversity net gain and invest in restoring nature.
Circular places
The built environment has tripled its circularity rate to at least 15%.
Healthy places
Buildings and communities are designed to improve health and wellbeing for people and nature.
How we will get there
Rate
Setting the benchmark for sustainability leadership through Green Star.
Advocate
Influencing policy, investment and market settings to accelerate the transition.
Educate
Building capability through education, training and research.
Collaborate
Bringing industry, government and communities together to drive collective action.
Operations and governance
Ensuring we have the systems and capability needed for trusted, long-term impact.
Our FY2027 – FY2030 Strategic priorities
Strategic priority 1
Be the national authority on sustainability in the built environment and a global influence
Our focus
- Policy and advocacy
- Sustainable finance and disclosure
- International leadership and collaboration
- Industry thought leadership
What success looks like by 2035
Australia is recognised as a global leader in sustainable buildings and places with sustainability embedded in policy, investment decisions, industry practice and market expectations.
Strategic priority 2
Shape our sector's response to climate action and resilience, circularity, nature and emerging megatrends
Our focus
- Climate action and resilience
- Nature positive development
- Circular economy and resource efficiency
- Embodied carbon reduction
- Emerging sustainability challenges and opportunities
What success looks like by 2035
Through GBCA’s influence, the built environment is all-electric, highly efficient and powered by renewable energy, with 60% less upfront carbon, 15% circularity rate and measurable positive outcomes for nature including a 10% biodiversity gain.
Strategic priority 3
Ensure Green Star continues to set the benchmark for sustainability leadership
Our focus
- Continuous evolution of Green Star
- Global leadership and credibility
- Customer experience and accessibility
- Sustainable finance alignment
- Innovation and digital transformation
What success looks like by 2035
Through continued uptake, Green Star remains the trusted benchmark for sustainability leadership, driving measurable outcomes across buildings, fitouts, communities and emerging sectors.
Strategic priority 4
Grow our focus into other sectors and opportunities
New focus areas
- Data centres
- Residential apartments
- Healthcare
- Education
- Products, materials & supply chains
Continued focus areas
- Industrial · Homes · Office · Retail · Social infrastructure · Infrastructure
What success looks like by 2035
Sustainability leadership extends across the full built environment ecosystem, with Green Star and GBCA influencing decisions from design and construction through to operation, procurement and investment.
Strategic priority 5
Build a future-ready GBCA
Our focus
- Digital transformation
- Artificial intelligence and innovation
- Organisational capability and culture
- Governance and financial sustainability
- Operational excellence
- Member, industry and user experience
What success looks like by 2035
Our people have the tools and capability to operate a high-performing organisation. Members, industry and Green Star users experience a more connected and responsive GBCA where interactions are simpler, faster and more valuable at every touchpoint.
Want the detail behind each priority?
Download Strategy 2030 and beyond to learn about our targets, pillars and behind each strategic priority.
Building on over two decades of impact
As of 30 June 2026, we have issued 9,860+ certifications against more than 4,300+ individual buildings, fitouts and communities.
1.2 million people
visit and heal in Green Star certified hospitals each year (478,000 inpatients plus 749,000 emergency /outpatients)
180,000+ people
will live in Green Star rated
apartment buildings, including student residences
10% of Australia’s workers
can be accommodated in Green Star certified offices each day
1.1 million+ people
will live or work in the Green Star communities we have certified, including 660,000+ residents and 450,000 workers and students
77 millions sqm
of building space is Green Star certified
21,500+ ha
of Green Star Communities certified
3.8 million people
visit a Green Star rated shopping centre each day
Transformation happens through collaboration
We know transformation happens when industry, government and communities work together. Our strategy sets out how GBCA will bring that collective effort to the challenges ahead.
