Lifecycle Carbon Reduction and Net Zero Pathway Modeling Using LEED, EDGE, and SBTI Frameworks in Developing Economy Industrial Buildings

Abstract

This study examined lifecycle carbon reduction and net zero pathway modeling using LEED, EDGE, and SBTi frameworks in developing economy industrial buildings. The problem addressed in this research is that many industrial buildings in developing economies remain highly dependent on fragmented sustainability practices, limited lifecycle carbon accounting, weak green finance readiness, and insufficient integration between building certification, resource efficiency, and science-based emissions targets. The purpose of the study was to assess how LEED-based sustainability practices, EDGE-based resource efficiency, SBTi-aligned target setting, and integrated framework adoption influence lifecycle carbon reduction and net zero pathway readiness. A quantitative, cross-sectional, case-based research design was adopted, using industrial enterprise building cases such as manufacturing plants, warehouses, processing facilities, logistics buildings, and industrial parks. The sample included 180 valid respondents, consisting of engineers, facility managers, sustainability consultants, project managers, energy auditors, construction managers, and industrial owners or developers. The key variables were LEED-based sustainability practices, EDGE-based resource efficiency, SBTi-aligned target setting, lifecycle carbon reduction, LEED-EDGE-SBTi integration, and net zero pathway readiness. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha reliability testing, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression modeling. The findings showed strong reliability across all constructs, with alpha values ranging from 0.82 to 0.89. EDGE-based resource efficiency recorded the highest mean score of 4.18, followed by lifecycle carbon reduction at 4.11, LEED-based sustainability practices at 4.05, and net zero pathway readiness at 3.98. Correlation results showed that lifecycle carbon reduction was strongly associated with net zero readiness, r = 0.71, p < 0.01. Regression analysis showed that LEED, EDGE, and SBTi jointly explained 58.4% of lifecycle carbon reduction variance, while lifecycle carbon reduction and framework integration explained 62.7% of net zero readiness variance. The study implies that integrated sustainability frameworks can strengthen industrial decarbonization, improve resource efficiency, and support measurable net zero transition planning.