- Posted on 16 Dec 2025
- 3-min read
This year, we continued to build our relationships with our collaboration partners and across UTS while tackling the interconnected challenges related to the climate crisis.
Program highlights
MECLA concrete guidelines go national
The Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders' Alliance (MECLA) is a collaboration of organisations coming together to drive reductions in embodied carbon in the building and construction industry. MECLA is co-led by us and WWF Australia. In October 2024, we released a guide to Low Carbon Concrete Specification, providing the first framework for rating concrete in terms of embodied carbon emissions. This guide formed a critical input when it came to the publication of the Australian adoption of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) Global Ratings for Low Carbon and Near Zero Concrete. Released in December 2025, this new national specification marks an important, industry-led step in supporting Australia’s transition toward lower-carbon and more sustainable design and construction. Read the GCCA media release here.
Energy Upgrades for Australian Homes (EUAH)
Climate-KIC Australia and ISF are creating tools to help local governments and community groups deliver home energy upgrades. In 2025, the Upgrade Accelerator Program supported 10 organisations through workshops on designing effective programs. With over 50 applicants, the strong interest signals growing momentum for community-led energy efficiency. Read the Impact Report here.
An Economic Roadmap for Mount Isa to create jobs, secure future
Mount Isa, like many other industrial regions globally, is at the crossroads of major economic transformation. That’s why we supported The Next Economy in the development of the Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap. This bold vision outlines pathways to strengthen and diversify Mount Isa’s economy, ensuring prosperity and resilience for the community while contributing to Australia’s clean energy transition. Read the roadmap here.
Business Renewables Centre Australia (BRC-A) Power Purchase Agreement Bootcamps
This year, the BRC-A team helped businesses and local government energy consumers navigate (and get the greatest benefits from) renewable energy power purchase agreements by staging a series of PPA Bootcamps. This included the team’s biggest bootcamp yet, which took place in Brisbane as part of BRC-A’s Local Energy Partnerships Qld Gov Program. Click to read about this and more BRC-A work here.
Climate change isn’t a single, linear problem to be solved – it’s a web of interconnected challenges that demand coordinated and connected interventions.
Coming up in 2026…
We’re looking forward to building momentum in the Vehicle-Grid Network (VGN), launched in December 2025 as a collaboration between Climate-KIC and ISF. Climate-KIC Australia will convene collaboration across industry, government, and researchers to share insights, learn from emerging technologies and uncover new value opportunities. Read more about the project here.
