Moving towards enhancing sustainability and transparency in the built environment, Standards Australia and the International Code Council have announced the development of a new Universal Data Protocol (UDP) at COP29.
This initiative aims to address the challenges of fragmented and unusable data across different disciplines and stages of the building lifecycle.
The announcement comes in the wake of the Declaration de Chaillot, signed by 70 countries in March 2024, which committed to achieving net-zero emissions in the global building industry.
The built environment sector plays a crucial role in addressing climate change drivers and impacts.
The UDP is designed as an extension of the UN Transparency Protocol (UNTP), providing a secure, decentralised framework for data sharing without relying on a central database.
It will serve as a Sustainability Vocabulary Catalogue (SVC) for the built environment, ensuring that data is easily understood and shared across borders and sectors.
Key benefits of the UDP include:
- Decentralised verification
- Interoperability
- Digital security
- Common language
- Open-source access
These features will enable businesses of all sizes and in any market to adopt, collaborate, and advance sustainability together.
Standards Australia and the International Code Council are working with UNTP accelerator Pyx Global to turn this vision into reality.
In the coming months, they plan to develop a proof-of-concept to demonstrate the protocol’s real-world applications.
Adam Stingemore, Chief Development Officer of Standards Australia, underscored the potential of the UDP, stating: “The launch of the report is a step towards unlocking the full potential of data and digital technologies, potentially helping to create a safe, sustainable, and resilient future for Australia and the world.”
Dominic Sims, CEO of the Code Council, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting: “We are pleased to work with Standards Australia to develop a globally applicable solution that provides the certainty and reliability that actors from across the industry need to continue to progress on meeting their climate-related goals.”
Zachary Zeus, CEO of Pyx Global, highlighted the broader implications of the UDP, stating: “The Universal Data Protocol, extending UNTP, will enhance data accessibility and transparency across the building sector. Pyx is excited to partner with Standards Australia and the International Code Council on this initiative, which will foster accountability and innovation in Australia and beyond.”
The development of the UDP represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges of data fragmentation and usability in the built environment.
By leveraging transparent, trustworthy, and verifiable data, this protocol has the potential to drive sustainability and transparency in the sector, while also elevating compliance standards and positioning its adopters as trusted players in the global market.
For more information on the global challenges, solutions, and workings of UDP as an extension of the UNTP, interested parties are encouraged to read the comprehensive whitepaper available on the Standards Australia website.
