SYNOPSIS   

The built environment sector is responsible for a significant 37% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This includes approximately 28% from operational emissions, which come from the energy used to cool, heat, and power buildings, and about 11% from embodied emissions, which are associated with the materials and construction processes used to build them, such as steel, cement, aluminium and glass.

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has set an ambitious target for net zero carbon emissions in all buildings and infrastructure by 2050. Many countries have adopted these emissions reduction targets as prerequisites for green building certification, and even made them mandatory by law for energy efficiency performance.

However, decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors (such as cement, steel, aluminum, glass) is challenging due to the high capital investment, long-term investment cycles, unavailability of affordable clean energy supply. To meet our nation’s Net Zero target by 2050, we need to produce low-carbon construction materials.

This presentation will explore the driving forces, opportunities and challenges behind the hard-to-abate industry's efforts to decarbonize their production, and the necessary policy framework and transition finance needed to accelerate the industry's low-carbon transition.

Mr. Chiew will share examples from the steel industry's efforts to reduce their GHG emissions towards their net zero goals. He will share how the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and life cycle analysis (LCA) can help manufacturers of construction materials in decarbonising the value chain. Mr Chiew will highlight best practices of real estate developers who have measured and reported their projects' embodied carbon.
Decarbonizing our built environment requires collaboration throughout the value chain and the commitment of stakeholders towards low-carbon development.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Mr. Chiew Teck Wee
Managing Director & Principal Consultant,
Riverstone Environmental Sdn Bhd
                    
Mr Chiew Teck Wee is the Managing Director and Founder of Riverstone Environmental Sdn Bhd.

Mr Chiew has 26 years of experience in environmental consultancy. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from University of Malaya and MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London. He is registered with the Department of Environment (DOE) as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultant. He is also a qualified Lead Environmental Auditor and Carbon Accountant (GHG emissions).

Mr Chiew specialises in environmental sustainability covering air quality, GHG & climate change, pollution and environmental risk assessment. His expertise covers due diligence, compliance and strategic advisory. Work has taken him to Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa regions, and across multiple industries such as oil & gas, power, manufacturing, plantation and financial sectors.

As a seasoned Consultant and Trainer, Mr Chiew helps his clients with environmental sustainability through active engagement to develop net zero roadmap, decarbonisation strategy, feasibility study, technical assessments and environmental risk management.