Carbon Accounting and Emissions Control in Asia’s Building Sector

An IKI project has developed and launched a web-based tool to support a more sustainable building sector.

The building sector is responsible for approximately 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions, making it a critical area for climate action. 

A newly developed tool tackles this challenge by offering a practical, data-driven solution for measuring carbon emissions, with a particular focus on embodied carbon—an area that has traditionally lacked sufficient data and standardized methodologies in many Asian countries: 

Focus on Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam

The Building Emissions Assessment Tool (BEAT), developed by IKI´s Asia Low Carbon project, is specifically tailored for use in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam—countries experiencing rapid construction growth. This web-based platform supports stakeholders across the building sector in making informed decisions for more sustainable construction.

The tool offers a unique set of features, including:

• Policy-aligned design that integrates with national climate goals, green certification systems, and sustainable finance frameworks
• Whole life cycle assessment, covering both embodied and operational emissions
• Open-source, web-based platform that removes adoption barriers, such as the need for specialized software
• Localized building material database, incorporating adaptable Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
• Comprehensive carbon benchmarking across different building types
• Free and open access, promoting broad use across the sector

BEAT wurde mit fachlicher Unterstützung von regionalen Fachleuten und Branchenpartnern entwickelt – unter anderem mit der Global Cement and Concrete Association, deren Low Carbon Ratings für Zement und Beton in das Tool integriert sind. So können Nutzerinnen und Nutzer fundierte Materialentscheidungen treffen, die sowohl die Umweltwirkung als auch aktuelle Marktstandards berücksichtigen.

Over 100 Participants at the Launch Event

On June 24, 2025, the IKI project launched the Building Emission Assessment Tool. More than 100 government officials, technical experts, and private sector stakeholders attended the launch event, which also served as a regional consultation. Feedback collected will guide future enhancements and ensure the tool remains aligned with local priorities and needs.

Future Developments

BEAT is built on a modular architecture, enabling continuous updates and expansion. Phase II will focus on extending the platform’s capabilities, including:

• Export functions for assessment results
• Enhanced benchmarking
• Analytics features to support carbon reduction recommendations

In parallel, and as part of the tool’s development, the ALCBT project is conducting in-depth assessments of over 500 buildings across its focus countries. This data will be used to establish national baselines and enable more effective implementation of BEAT.