As part of our Center for Leadership (CFL) program, participants are broken into groups that provide their collective expertise to local municipalities or nonprofits in the form of mini technical assistance panels (mTAPs). In 2023, we began integrating NZI as a focus for our mTAP projects. Each 2023 group was assigned a partnering organization seeking assistance with developing net-zero strategies and better sustainability practices. Read more about each of these projects here.

One of our 2024 CFL groups continued work with Livable Buckhead on providing advice and recommendations regarding its “Embodied Carbon Action Plan” and implementing embodied carbon standards. This group produced a report for the CID that laid out objectives and a timeline for the plan, a survey of the industry landscape, an embodied carbon case study, and a list of policy recommendations.

Embodied Carbon in Buckhead
As part of a global cohort supported by the ULI Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate, ULI Atlanta hosted the 2025 Net Zero Imperative (NZI) Workshops in partnership with Livable Buckhead. Focused on one of Atlanta’s most vibrant commercial and residential districts, these Technical Assistance-focused workshops convened local leaders, developers, property owners, real estate professionals, and community stakeholders, alongside guest participants from across the U.S. and Canada. Together, they explored practical, place-based strategies to reduce carbon emissions and build long-term resilience in Buckhead. Key focus areas included energy efficiency, low-carbon transportation, and sustainable development. This effort is part of a broader ULI initiative to create healthier, more sustainable, and economically thriving communities worldwide.