Reducing Upfront Carbon in Green Star

1 Dec 2026
Event Guide

Agenda

Welcome and introduction

12:32–1:00 pm  Upfront carbon reductions in Green Star and what matters most

Explore how GBCA is evolving its approach to upfront carbon reductions in response to new industry tools and project team experience. This session will cover:

  • The role of upfront carbon reductions across Green Star.
  • The background and development process for the pathways across Green Star Buildings, Communities v2 and Fitouts.
  • The upcoming release of typical emission factors.

Speaker: Emily Chung, Manager, Future Focus, Green Building Council of Australia

1:00–1.40 pm  What’s changing for upfront carbon emission factors and reference projects

Nicole will take a practical look at the key methodology decisions project teams need to navigate when calculating upfront carbon.

  • Introducing typical emission factors – what they are and where they came from.
  • What typical emission factors change for Green Star upfront carbon calculations.
  • Choosing between typical and project-specific emission factors and when each is appropriate.
  • Applying emission factors to reference and proposed projects, including where to focus effort and judgement.

Speaker: Nicole Sullivan, Impact Director, thinkstep-anz

BREAK: 1.40 – 1.50pm

1.50pm–2.50pm Interactive groups: working through real Green Star upfront carbon scenarios

Work through realistic Green Star project scenarios in interactive groups, putting the methodology into practice and exploring the decisions project teams need to make.

  • Work together using the guidance, calculator and supporting resources to explore emission factors, project-specific data and reference cases.
  • Come back together to compare approaches and report back, drawing out practical lessons and the decisions that matter most for your own Green Star projects.

Speakers/hosts:

  • Emily Chung, Manager, Future Focus, Green Building Council of Australia
  • Nicole Sullivan, Impact Director, thinkstep-anz

2.50pm–3:25 pm  Q&A: Your upfront carbon questions answered

Hear different perspectives on the questions and challenges raised throughout the session and bring your questions to our panel.

  • Emily Chung, Manager, Future Focus, Green Building Council of Australia
  • Nicole Sullivan, Impact Director, thinkstep-anz
  • Tim Wheeler, Associate Director – Strategic Research Programs, CEFC

3:25–3:30 pm  Wrap up and close