However, it's not just electricity generation that matters. Other sectors also have an important role to play in reducing emissions. This includes the built environment. Buildings are responsible for half of Australia’s emissions. Emissions from buildings come from energy use, gas use and emissions from the manufacture of building materials (what’s called embodied carbon). The quality of buildings and developments also determines how comfortable and healthy they are for people and how much they cost to run. Building all new developments and homes to withstand a hotter future is a crucial part of adapting to climate change. Proposed earlier this year, the Design and Place SEPP is an opportunity for the government to improve planning rules to achieve net zero emissions and make our urban environment’s better more sustainable places to live. Once the draft SEPP comes out for consultation later this month, we’ll be in touch about how to make your voice heard, so we can help get a strong Design and Place SEPP over the line - so make sure to listen to understand the issue.