The scientific and technical event is expected to gather over 1,000 delegates at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), including academic scientists, researchers, practitioners and educators specialising in sustainable development in the built environment.
Fittingly, MCEC was the first convention centre in the world to receive a 6-star Green Star environmental rating.
The conference was won for Melbourne by Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) in collaboration with RMIT University, with support from the Victorian Government and Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund.
“We are delighted to bring the World Sustainable Built Environment Conference back to Melbourne,” said MCB CEO Julia Swanson.
“Our city has a rich history of hosting successful sustainability-focused conferences, leaving a lasting legacy.
“Melbourne remains at the forefront of addressing sustainability challenges in the built environment and the Victorian Government is dedicated to enhancing the environmental performance and resilience of buildings in response to urban growth and climate change.
“Well-designed and resource-efficient infrastructure…is essential for creating more sustainable cities and business events,” said Swanson, referencing MCEC’s world-first maxed out green star rating.
RMIT University’s professor of the sustainable built environment, Dr. Usha Iyer-Raniga, said the conference in Melbourne would provide an opportunity to move sustainable development forward.
“We are excited to showcase our cutting-edge research and development and to encourage innovative thinking to address these critical issues.
“As we approach the 2026 event, there is a growing need to plan beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) timeline of 2015-2030.
“This conference provides an opportunity to take stock and move from inaction to action, addressing important challenges such as the triple planetary crises.
“We aim to chart a new course for humanity, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and accelerating solutions for both the Global North and the Global South.”