Get Started: Climate Action in the built environment across Australia
Mon Nov 17 2025
Across Australia numerous groups are taking meaningful climate action and working hard to develop inspiring solutions.
Today, I speak with representatives from five different organisations from the built environment to find out what’s happening. These groups tackle climate change from various angles, employing different structures and methods. They include formal committees, research groups, informal support and information sharing, and grass roots action.
Today we’ll hear from:
1. The Australian Institute of Architects, Climate Action and Sustainability Committee – Andrew Noonan
2. The Retrofit Lab, from the University of Melbourne – Professor Sarah Bell
3. Australian Architects Declare – Steffen Welsch
4. Parlour Regenerative Designers Annexe – Anna Lindstad
5. Architects Climate Action Network, Australia – Lucy Humphrey
Most of the groups I speak with today welcome all built environment professionals. And most importantly, they all provide free environmental information on their websites.
Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours the time they spend listening to the podcasts.
MORE INFORMATION
Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website.
www.renovationcollaborative.com.au
PODCASTKey points summary, timestamps and resource linksFREERESOURCESTranscript edited into clear Q&A.CPDAustralian architects can find more information on CPD, andCOURSESEleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:43] AIA – Climate Action & Sustainability Committee – Andrew Noonan
[00:02:19] What are the primary functions of the committee at State & National level?
[00:05:24] What projects are you working on at the moment?
[00:07:08] Can you tell us about the Embodied Carbon Curriculum?
[00:09:43] How can architects get involved?
[00:11:27] The Retrofit Lab, The University of Melbourne – Professor Sarah Bell
[00:12:08] How did the Retrofit Lab get started?
[00:14:13] Can you tell us about the Retrofit Lab and the work you do?
[00:20:18] Tell us about your project investigating digital info for retrofit decisions?
[00:23:53] Tell us about about your Climate Safe Rooms project?
[00:26:42] How can we get involved and find out more?
[00:28:29] Australian Architects Declare – Steffen Welsch
[00:29:29] How did Architects Declare get started in Australia?
[00:31:06] What are your primary aims?
[00:31:44] How is it run?
[00:33:49] How can architects get involved?
[00:35:17] What campaigns are you working on?
[00:39:35]...
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Across Australia numerous groups are taking meaningful climate action and working hard to develop inspiring solutions. Today, I speak with representatives from five different organisations from the built environment to find out what’s happening. These groups tackle climate change from various angles, employing different structures and methods. They include formal committees, research groups, informal support and information sharing, and grass roots action. Today we’ll hear from: 1. The Australian Institute of Architects, Climate Action and Sustainability Committee – Andrew Noonan 2. The Retrofit Lab, from the University of Melbourne – Professor Sarah Bell 3. Australian Architects Declare – Steffen Welsch 4. Parlour Regenerative Designers Annexe – Anna Lindstad 5. Architects Climate Action Network, Australia – Lucy Humphrey Most of the groups I speak with today welcome all built environment professionals. And most importantly, they all provide free environmental information on their websites. Australian Architects can claim formal CPD hours the time they spend listening to the podcasts. MORE INFORMATION Find everything you need on the Renovation Collaborative website. www.renovationcollaborative.com.au PODCASTKey points summary, timestamps and resource linksFREERESOURCESTranscript edited into clear Q&A.CPDAustralian architects can find more information on CPD, andCOURSESEleven easy to read courses demystifying the entire home design and construction process. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS [00:00:00] Introduction [00:01:43] AIA – Climate Action & Sustainability Committee – Andrew Noonan [00:02:19] What are the primary functions of the committee at State & National level? [00:05:24] What projects are you working on at the moment? [00:07:08] Can you tell us about the Embodied Carbon Curriculum? [00:09:43] How can architects get involved? [00:11:27] The Retrofit Lab, The University of Melbourne – Professor Sarah Bell [00:12:08] How did the Retrofit Lab get started? [00:14:13] Can you tell us about the Retrofit Lab and the work you do? [00:20:18] Tell us about your project investigating digital info for retrofit decisions? [00:23:53] Tell us about about your Climate Safe Rooms project? [00:26:42] How can we get involved and find out more? [00:28:29] Australian Architects Declare – Steffen Welsch [00:29:29] How did Architects Declare get started in Australia? [00:31:06] What are your primary aims? [00:31:44] How is it run? [00:33:49] How can architects get involved? [00:35:17] What campaigns are you working on? [00:39:35]...