The UK Green Building Council has launched a net zero whole-life carbon roadmap to help businesses across the built environment on their journey to carbon neutrality.
UKGBC said the project would identify how the built environment can support government’s new objective to cut emissions by 68% by 2030 and set a science-based trajectory to achieving net zero for the whole sector by 2050. The roadmap will cover all building types and infrastructure, all built environment stakeholders and sub-sectors and address carbon across the whole building lifecycle.
The roadmap, which will be unveiled at COP26 in November 2021 in Glasgow, aims to build a common vision and agreed actions for achieving net zero carbon in the construction, operation and demolition of buildings and infrastructure.
John Alker, director of policy and places at UKGBC, said: “The concept of net zero carbon has taken the built environment sector by storm, and government has set out a clear level of ambition ahead of COP26, with a strong evidence base produced by the Climate Change Committee. But there remains a missing key ingredient in terms of a single, coherent, shared plan of action for getting to net zero whole-life carbon for the totality of the built environment.
“The sheer volume of climate activity and initiatives in the sector is testament to the interest and momentum in this space, but we desperately need to work together in partnership and forge consensus if we are going to deliver the radical carbon reductions needed.”
Alex Green, assistant director at the British Property Federation and UKGBC roadmap stakeholder engagement adviser, added: “There is no doubt that meeting net zero is one of the biggest challenges the real estate industry has faced to date. Addressing the challenge will require co-operation, collaboration and a clear plan of action. While the industry is supportive of delivering a net zero transition, it is important that we use the opportunity of the UK hosting COP26 to deliver a clear roadmap for action.”
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