Net-Zero Imperative (NZI)
The ULI Net Zero Imperative (NZI) is a multi-year initiative to accelerate decarbonization in the built environment and is a significant aspect of ULI’s work to advance its net zero mission priority.
The ULI Net Zero Imperative is a growing, collaborative network of ULI District and National Councils, including ULI staff, local governments, real estate leaders, and community stakeholder groups focused on decarbonizing cities and real estate. Since 2023, ULI Atlanta has made NZI an integral part of our local initiatives in an effort to shape the future of Georgia’s built environment. See below to learn more.
2023
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.
2024
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.
2025
ULI Atlanta and Livable Buckhead will coordinate two industry workshops that will bring together experts and practitioners that have implemented embodied carbon policies, as well as people knowledgeable about Atlanta’s zoning policies. This panel will include professionals involved in policy development, city officials responsible for enforcement, consultants specializing in embodied carbon analysis and reporting, and developers, architects, and contractors who will provide practical feedback on any proposed embodied carbon zoning codes. The industry workshop will result in recommendations for how Livable Buckhead should propose zoning code amendments and how to support the development community in the process.