China is partnering with ISCA to develop an infrastructure sustainability rating scheme for China
The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) has signed a collaboration agreement at the Australia Week in China signing ceremony witnessed by the Federal Minister for Trade and Investment, the Honorable Steven Ciobo and Special Envoy Andrew Robb, with a newly created Chinese alliance to create the Green Infrastructure Finance Accreditation (GIFA) scheme for the Chinese infrastructure industry. The GIFA scheme will be based on ISCA’s Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) rating scheme currently used in Australia and New Zealand.
The GIFA alliance consists of China City Development Foundation (CCDF) a not-for profit organization for advancing sustainability in China‘s urban development; Green World City (GWC) a global network of CEOs and experts involved in creating sustainable projects in over 120 countries and ISCA. The GIFA scheme, which will be modelled on Australia’s IS scheme, aims to support China in delivering and operating more sustainable infrastructure. Direct benefits will include reduced emissions, enhanced social acceptance and reduced project investment risk.
Mr. Sprigg, ISCA’s CEO who represented ISCA at the signing ceremony, highlights “This is a significant initiative when you consider the current and future infrastructure plans for China and highlights Australian government and private sector world leadership in the infrastructure sustainability space …” and adds, “the initiative and partnership is an example of stepping up to Prime Minister Turnbull’s innovation challenge to change Australia’s economy and aligned with the Prime Ministers announcement yesterday in Beijing regarding the $100 million joint Australia – China innovation precinct.”
It is anticipated that the formal announcement and launch of the not for profit organisation which will ultimately be leading the development and deployment of the GIFA scheme, with ISCA’s support, will be announced soon, and will likely include a number of Central Government Bureaus.
Mr. Sprigg also flagged, “ that the other reason why the Chinese GIFA alliance partners want to partner with ISCA is that it will be easier for them and others to access best practise services and products from Australia to raise the infrastructure bar in China.”
The IS rating scheme is an industry-compiled voluntary sustainability performance rating scheme which encourages enhanced practises and outcomes across social, environmental and economic impacts. The scheme can be applied from planning through to design, construction and operation of all infrastructure asset classes in all sectors linking industry, communities and commerce beyond regulatory standards. Since launching in 2012, over $68 billion in infrastructure and civil works projects or assets across Australia and New Zealand have either been certified or registered for an IS rating. The IS rating scheme with support from ISCA can be adapted for use in other jurisdictions.
The benefits include:
- Reduced project and whole of life asset risk
- Enabling and accelerating applied innovation for infrastructure market adoption
- Improved community involvement and support for projects
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- >Reduced environmental impacts (air, water, noise etc.)
- Enhanced biodiversity outcomes
- Resource efficiency and project and whole-of-life asset cost savings
- Enhanced urban and landscape design for infrastructure
“We are looking forward to a long term collaborative partnership with China through this initiative, which we hope will facilitate institutional and grass roots environmental and social benefits as well as commercial opportunities for our members…” said Mr. Sprigg in closing.
About CCDF
China City Development Foundation（CCDF） is a not-for profit organization for advancing sustainability in China‘s urban development. CCDF functions as a bridge connecting the global technical expertise and investment capital to China’s urban development opportunities. The founding partners of CCDF have worked with 28 Chinese cities since year 2000, covering 1850 square kilometres of large scale urban development and infrastructure projects.
About GWC
Green World City (GWC) Green World City’s mission is to help build more sustainable cities worldwide by providing a framework focusing on cost-effective solutions. GWC is a global network of CEOs, senior executives and experts involved in creating sustainable projects in over 120 countries. The GWC team has campaigned worldwide and shared knowledge in building a more sustainable future with hundreds of major political and business decision makers, including many world leaders.