As cities rise, a hidden crisis looms within the concrete and steel – an immense carbon footprint locked into the very materials that shape our world. Buildings and infrastructure account for nearly a quarter of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, much of it embedded in the materials used: steel, cement, and aluminum, all of which leave a lasting carbon footprint. Helping to address this challenge is Monica Richter, a seasoned sustainability expert and co-founder of the Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA). “If we’re serious about achieving net-zero, we need to rethink how we source, design, and construct our buildings,” she asserts. With decades of experience spanning corporate sustainability, policy advocacy, and market transformation, Richter has played an important role in reshaping how industries approach carbon reduction and circularity in material use.

If we’re serious about achieving net-zero, we need to rethink how we source, design, and construct our buildings.

As Senior Manager of the Low Carbon Futures Program at WWF-Australia, Richter is driving systemic change by fostering cross-sector collaboration. MECLA, a consortium of organizations united in tackling embodied carbon, is pioneering new approaches that emphasize demand-driven transformation. The construction industry, she notes, is ripe for disruption – businesses that adopt circular supply chains and low-carbon materials will gain a competitive edge in a market that is rapidly evolving. “Companies that align with sustainability goals today will define the industry of tomorrow,” Richter said. In this conversation, she delves into the challenges, opportunities, and real-world success stories that demonstrate how innovative climate solutions are reshaping the future of construction and infrastructure.

Can you share a bit about your background and journey thus far? What initially drew you to this field, and what are some of the highlights of your work so far?

Monica Richter: I trained as an economist for my first degree and later pursued a Master’s in Social Ecology, focusing on corporate social responsibility and the role of business and finance in driving sustainable outcomes. In the mid-to-late 1990s, concepts like the triple bottom line and corporate social responsibility were still relatively new, and there were no clear frameworks for measuring corporate sustainability performance, particularly regarding greenhouse gas emissions.

My career began in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where I worked for about ten years in various policy roles. However, my interest in corporate sustainability led me to Greenpeace, where I worked as a corporate campaigner for five years. That experience gave me deep insights into activism, corporate accountability, and the power of storytelling in driving social change.

From there, I joined the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) to establish its sustainability program, focusing on climate change and sustainable cities. After another decade at ACF, I transitioned to WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), where I worked extensively on policy advocacy, business engagement, and market transformation initiatives.

During my time at WWF, I became involved in supply chain analysis and worked on initiatives such as the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which encourages businesses to set carbon reduction targets aligned with climate science. I also helped establish the Renewable Energy Buyers Forum, facilitating corporate procurement of renewable energy through power purchase agreements.

Even if we decarbonize energy systems, we cannot meet our climate targets without addressing material consumption and waste.

In 2019, I co-founded the Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA) to address embodied carbon in the built environment. MECLA brings together businesses, government agencies, and industry leaders to drive demand for low-carbon materials and accelerate the adoption of sustainable construction practices. The collaborative approach we promote has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career…

Read the full story in the February 2025 issue of Impact Leadership magazine.