COMMENT Climate change is creating an unprecedented crisis for our world. We are becoming increasingly aware of the severe impact it is having on our environment and economy, but we know that decreasing our carbon emissions is our single most powerful lever in tackling the challenges it presents.
The built environment plays a significant role in carbon emissions, which means we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to make a difference. As a business we have committed to becoming net zero by 2030, and we’ve done a lot of work to identify how we’re going to achieve that, from working with occupiers to reduce their emissions to changing how we design and build to decrease embodied carbon emissions in the development process.
The transition to net zero requires innovative thinking and new approaches to decrease carbon emissions, and we are finding new ways to use more carbon-efficient materials in our buildings, such as using lower-carbon concrete and investigating timber-based solutions. We are also looking to rely less on fossil fuels to power our buildings and our business. We have built strong relationships with our occupiers to help reduce carbon. But how do we measure this impact to ensure the actions we are taking are making a difference?
The role of data
That is where data comes in.
Data represents one of our biggest opportunities to accelerate the transition to a net-zero world. Data shapes our ability to run buildings more efficiently, for example capturing energy consumption. But it’s more than just capturing code. It can show us how we can positively influence the behaviours of our occupiers to lower their emissions – a key element of reaching our net zero ambition. It also supports us in assessing the risks to ensure all our buildings are climate resilient, and to identify where there are climate risks that need to be closely managed.
Beyond our business, data is transforming where we live and work. But accurate data holds the key to making the whole built environment less carbon intensive by using smarter technology to transform cities. From decreasing emissions through optimised transport systems to designing buildings that are all-electric, such as our 80 Charlotte Street building in London.
We have huge opportunities in front of us, but making the most of them will mean setting clear objectives. That is why we are setting targets and publicly tracking our progress through third-party assurance. Data is the critical element that enables this, underpinning every aspect of our transition to a net-zero business and a net-zero world.
Connectivity is key
One of the biggest challenges around putting data into action is how we join up the data we capture. Data production, retrieval and analysis across the built environment is siloed and sporadic. The sector urgently needs to find ways to overcome some of the systemic issues that hold us all back from real transformation: ageing equipment, lack of digital connectivity and lack of investment.
As part of our commitment, we are looking for ways we can work with the whole industry to overcome these barriers. We are investing in smarter technology and new equipment, and working with partners to find better ways to share and connect our data. A challenge this big needs everyone to work together to get us to a net zero world.
John Davies is head of sustainability at Derwent London
