Our buildings are responsible for two types of emissions: operational and embodied. Operational carbon is the carbon emitted through the day-to-day activities of a building – whether that’s heating, cooling or ventilation, the running of key infrastructure like lifts or the powering of electronics and appliances. Simply put, operational carbon is what keeps a building’s lights on. 

Embodied carbon, on the other hand, is all the other carbon emitted by a building over its life cycle, including sourcing its materials, the construction process and, finally, demolition. This blog is going to focus on how we can reduce our operational emissions, but you can learn more about embodied carbon here.  

in 2018 71% of the UK built environment’s carbon footprint came from its operational emissions

Why do we need to reduce Operational Carbon and what are its main causes? 

As of 2018, according to UKGBC’s Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap, 71% of the UK built environment’s carbon footprint came from its operational emissions. Operating our offices, shops and other non-domestic buildings emitted 39.7 MtCO2e, with our homes having an even larger impact at 84.8 MtCO2e. To put these emissions in context, just operating the UK’s buildings puts as much carbon into the atmosphere as burning 288 million barrels of oil each year. The main causes of these emissions are: 

Fossil fuel heating in both homes and businesses

Fossil fuel driven electricity powering lights and appliances 

Inefficient buildings that leak valuable energy – particularly in winter. 

With a rapidly changing climate, we have a responsibility to reduce these emissions – and the good news is that the solutions are already out there. We just need to mobilise our industry and policymakers to roll-out at scale. 

Learn more about reducing reliance on fossil fuel powered electricity here.  

Reducing operational carbon in different building types 

Existing Homes  

We can reduce operational energy use in existing homes in three main ways:  

Insulation: The more efficient a building, the less energy it needs to keep warm and safe. We primarily improve a home’s efficiency through insulation in areas like: cavity walls, underfloor recesses and the roof. Additional efficiency measures like double glazed windows also help reduce precious heat leaching from a home, and reduce the energy needed to keep it warm. 

Switching to Electric Heating: 85% of UK homes use a gas-boiler for heating. Switching to an electricity powered heat pump is an opportunity for millions to move away from burning fossil fuels and drastically reduce their carbon footprint. 

Using Renewable Energy: Where possible, homes should seek to use renewable energy to power their electricity – whether that’s through renewable tariffs or on-site generation like roof-top solar panels.  

Learn more about retrofitting existing homes to be friendlier to the planet here.  

Existing Non-Domestic Buildings 

We can reduce operational energy use in existing non-domestic buildings by:  

Moving away from Fossil Fuel heating: As of 2018, 66% of commercial buildings’ emissions were from heating – by switching to electric systems non-domestic spaces can drastically reduce their impact on the environment.  

Introducing Building Performance Targets: Having targets for non-domestic buildings to improve their energy efficiency that include mandatory disclosure of their performance would galvanise action in this sector. Further building these targets into legal and commercial frameworks would raise the standard for buildings – ensuring all non-domestic buildings were having a limited impact on the environment.  

Embracing on-site Renewables: Many non-domestic developments such as warehouses, factories and shopping centers have large flat roofs that are ideal for solar PV.  

New Buildings 

We can reduce operational energy use in new buildings by:  

Putting energy efficiency first: All new buildings should be built with their energy performance in mind, ensuring that they are built as efficiently as possible to reduce future carbon emissions. This doesn’t just mean designing a home to keep it warm, but also designing it to keep it cool – so that extra energy won’t be needed for air conditioning in the future. 

Prioritising electricity: Of course, this means designing with a heat pump from the start and building solar panels into the roof, but it can also mean building in smart features that automatically save electricity. 

Learn more about standards for building new homes with low carbon emissions here.

What is industry already doing? 

Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard 

Launched in late 2024, the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard aims to create a robust, universal standard for all building types that allows industry to prove their projects are net zero and in line with the UK’s climate targets. As part of this standard, limits are set for the operational energy use in buildings and targets for on-site renewable energy generation. These limits are encouraging asset designers, builders and owners to considerably reduce their operational energy use in order to meet Net Zero.  

What is UKGBC doing about Operational Carbon?  

Our team has long been working on projects related to helping industry reduce operational carbon emissions in both new and existing buildings. Some key activities include:  

Renewable Energy Procurement: This work stream gives asset owners clear guidance on how to procure renewable energy and gives guidance on how to reimagine energy use and a flexible grid as we shift towards on-site generation and away from fossil fuels. Learn more here. 

Retrofit: Reducing energy use in existing homes through energy efficiency improvements has been a long-term aim for UKGBC. We work with both national and local policy makers to implement programmes that lead to the retrofit of homes to keep them safe, warm and cheap to run. In fact, home retrofit is a great example of climate friendly fixes – like reducing operational carbon – having positive social, health and financial benefits too. Learn more here.  

Operational Optimisation Labs: Throughout 2024 and 2025, UKGBC has been working to understand how optimising commercial buildings can reduce operational carbon emissions. Optimising a building, as opposed to undertaking a deep retrofit, is unobtrusive and can still lead to considerable carbon reductions without a building being taken out of us. The final outcome of this project will be launched in the spring, and you can find out more about the project and its supporters here.  

Advancing Net Zero

Created in 2018 as part of a World Green Building Council initiative, UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero programme has a mission to lead the UK’s transition to a net zero built environment. It has produced leading guidance such as the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework and the Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap, whilst working with organisations and experts across the industry.

View more

The post What is Operational Carbon in buildings?   appeared first on UKGBC.

This publication forms part of a series called the Industry Pulse Check, a periodic report on the built environment sector’s progress in reducing emissions in line with the Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap. Each publication highlights areas where the industry has made strides on the priority actions identified in the Roadmap and where it is falling short. It identifies stakeholders responsible for essential future actions and features voices of industry professionals urging the sector to elevate its efforts.

Embodied carbon emissions account for approximately 50% of lifecycle emissions for new builds, yet they remain unregulated, and measurement and mitigation within design and construction is mostly voluntary. As a significant contributor to the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, embodied carbon must be tackled in order to meet the UK’s carbon budgets.

Addressing this issue requires a dual approach: enhancing design efficiency and optimising material choices by building designers, while also decarbonising the supply chain through industrial strategies and carbon pricing policies. The development of the UK building stock should prioritise a “retrofit first” strategy, driving the circular economy, fostering second-hand materials markets, and increasing re-use. 

The development of the UK building stock should prioritise a “retrofit first” strategy, driving the circular economy, fostering second-hand materials markets, and increasing re-use. 

Will Arnold, Head of Climate Action at The Institution of Structural Engineers, said:

Recent years have seen significant voluntary action on whole life carbon from across the sector. Guidance, tools and training continues to increase the capacity of project teams to understand and reduce the carbon emissions from their designs. Exemplary projects touch the ground more lightly each year, and the launch of the 1.5°-aligned UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard provides the watermark against which such projects can be judged. 

The challenge now is to ensure the take-up of such skills across every project, not only the exemplars. The time is right for whole life carbon regulation to be introduced, bringing industry-wide consistency on reporting requirements, and levelling the playing field between projects. Experts have been calling for such regulation since 2007, and the 200+ statements of support shown on the Part Z website demonstrate wide backing from industry.” 

What is the industry doing about Whole Life Carbon?

The industry is beginning to shift its approach to decarbonisation, driven by an improved knowledge and awareness of whole life carbon and the urgent need to reduce embodied carbon emissions. Leading private companies, industry organisations, and local authorities have been taking initial steps in this area by setting operational energy and upfront embodied carbon targets, demonstrating a commitment and drive to reduce emissions associated with development.

Currently, the measurement and mitigation of embodied carbon at project level is voluntary, with regulatory or statutory mechanisms only in place in a handful of local authorities. While leading developers and infrastructure clients measure and optimise the embodied carbon footprint of new projects, and technical standards and guidance are available to support this, this practice is not yet mainstream across the industry. 

New standards to support Whole Life Carbon reductions

In July 2024, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) introduced the  Whole Life Carbon Assessment Professional Standard, updating the previous 2017 Professional Statement. The new Standard sets a high bar for consistency and reliability in whole life carbon modelling and reporting. To advance further the industry needs to collectively contribute their whole life carbon data to open-access resources, such as the Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD). Shared and accessible data is vital for further informed target-setting, decision-making and industry-wide improvement. 

Industry organisations have also played a pivotal role in advancing the decarbonisation mandate through the development of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, a landmark initiative which established limits that align with the 1.5°C global heating threshold set by the Paris Agreement. The Standard provides clear, time-bound limits for upfront embodied carbon, creating a definitive pathway for industry to align with a 1.5°C heating scenario. The industry’s collaboration in creating this standard underscores the shared understanding of the urgent need to address climate change and willingness to lead by example.

Advocating for legislative support

The Part Z campaign, driven by industry advocates, continues to push for mandatory whole life carbon measurements and upfront embodied carbon limits to be included in UK building regulations. This campaign highlights the necessity of legislative support to drive widespread adoption and ensure that carbon considerations are part of every stage of a building’s lifecycle. Many leading companies and organisations support this campaign, recognising that regulatory frameworks are essential for achieving systemic change. 

We need government policy on Whole Life Carbon

robust action from the national government is critical to bring the rest of the industry up to speed

Despite these advancements, robust action from the national government is critical to bring the rest of the industry up to speed. This requires mandating whole life carbon assessments in building regulations and ultimately introducing legal limits to upfront embodied carbon, with a view to future revision and tightening as required. Without such intervention, the progress made by leading companies and organisations may not be enough to drive the widespread, systemic change required to meet the UK’s carbon reduction targets. 

Local authorities leading by example

Several local authorities, including the Greater London Authority, Milton Keynes City Council, Bath & North-East Somerset Council, and Southampton City Council, have taken commendable steps to incorporate whole life carbon measurements and limits into their planning requirements. These actions set a benchmark for other regions and demonstrate the potential for local governance to drive progress at a regional level.

Alex Benstead, Senior Advisor at UKGBC, said:

With the urgent need to cap global temperature increases at 1.5°C, it’s alarming that around 1 in 10 tonnes of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, specifically those related to embodied carbon, remain unregulated. We need responsible government action to mandate whole life carbon measurement in building regulations and introduce legal limits on embodied carbon. 

This is crucial for supporting ongoing positive actions. Industry consultants are constantly improving the consistency and reliability of their carbon modelling and reporting. Several Local Authorities are leading by example, incorporating whole life carbon measurements and limits into their planning requirements. Now bold steps need to be taken to mainstream these practices.” 

Stakeholder Action Plans

The Whole Life Carbon Roadmap includes 14 individual Stakeholder Action Plans that set out specific recommended actions for key industry stakeholders. These plans enable stakeholders to contribute effectively to achieving the Roadmap’s goals. Below is a summary table of the actions related to this Key Priority: Whole Life Carbon Measurement and Agreed Limits. 

To learn more about the Stakeholder Action Plans, join our unique collaborative programme with our membership to drive greater action, and understand the industry status on delivery of the actions within the plans – where are we and what more do we need to do?  

Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap

The industry’s pathway to net zero by 2050.

View more

Advancing Net Zero

Created in 2018 as part of a World Green Building Council initiative, UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero programme has a mission to lead the UK’s transition to a net zero built environment. It has produced leading guidance such as the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework and the Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap, whilst working with organisations and experts across the industry.

View more

The post NZWLC Industry Pulse Check: Whole life carbon measurements and agreed limits  appeared first on UKGBC.

We know we need to rapidly decarbonise all aspects of the built environment, and quickly. Through minimum energy intensity and embodied carbon targets for most assets, we can tackle a large part of the decarbonisation challenge. However good those targets are, they’re unlikely to reach true net zero. And that’s why a carbon offsetting and pricing strategy is needed – to manage the residual emissions. 

It is this final approach – furthering climate mitigation through offsetting and internal carbon pricing – that is the subject of this masterclass, built on the recent publication of Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Guidance from UKGBC. 

About the course 

This in-person workshop will help you to understand and use the guidance developed by UKGBC. It will walk you through the four-steps to creating an offsetting and carbon pricing plan. Through group work, discussion and challenges, the workshop will be an interactive and engaging way to better understand the complex world of offsetting and carbon pricing and set you on a path to developing your own strategy.  

In joining this course, you will:

• Learn in detail about each of the steps for setting an ambitious carbon offsetting plan 
• Explore internal carbon pricing and learn about how you can develop a pricing strategy for your organisation 
• Clearly understand how to implement UKGBC’s Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Guidance 
• Connect with others in industry, sharing and learning from each other 

Why join the course?

• Learn from UKGBC experts about the steps needed to generate a robust offsetting and carbon pricing strategy  
• Practice setting a carbon prince through interactive challenge 
• Collaborate and meet others in industry, sharing challenges and opportunities.  
• Learn from UKGBC experts about the steps needed to generate a robust offsetting and carbon pricing strategy  
• Better understand UKGBC’s guidance and how to implement the recommendations  
• Apply new skills and practice setting a carbon price with an interactive challenge 
• Collaborate and meet others in industry, sharing challenges and opportunities.  

Hosts and speakers

• Alex Benstead, Senior Advisor – Advancing Net Zero, UKGBC.
• Stephen Thompson, Associate, Arup.
• Plus an offsetting provider to be announced!

Who should join the course?

This workshop is designed for decision-makers and their teams who are embarking on a net zero strategy that includes offsetting and/or carbon pricing.

Climate Change Mitigation

We are in a decisive decade for climate action and with a decreasing number of years left to achieve 2030 climate targets, radical and rapid transformation from businesses and the global economy is essential.

View more

The post Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Masterclass (London) appeared first on UKGBC.

We know we need to rapidly decarbonise all aspects of the built environment, and quickly. Through minimum energy intensity and embodied carbon targets for most assets, we can tackle a large part of the decarbonisation challenge. However good those targets are, they’re unlikely to reach true net zero. And that’s why a carbon offsetting and pricing strategy is needed – to manage the residual emissions. 

It is this final approach – furthering climate mitigation through offsetting and internal carbon pricing – that is the subject of this masterclass, built on the recent publication of Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Guidance from UKGBC. 

About the course 

This in-person workshop will help you to understand and use the guidance developed by UKGBC. It will walk you through the four-steps to creating an offsetting and carbon pricing plan. Through group work, discussion and challenges, the workshop will be an interactive and engaging way to better understand the complex world of offsetting and carbon pricing and set you on a path to developing your own strategy.  

In joining this course, you will:

• Learn in detail about each of the steps for setting an ambitious carbon offsetting plan 
• Explore internal carbon pricing and learn about how you can develop a pricing strategy for your organisation 
• Clearly understand how to implement UKGBC’s Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Guidance 
• Connect with others in industry, sharing and learning from each other 

Why join the course?

• Learn from UKGBC experts about the steps needed to generate a robust offsetting and carbon pricing strategy  
• Practice setting a carbon prince through interactive challenge 
• Collaborate and meet others in industry, sharing challenges and opportunities.  
• Learn from UKGBC experts about the steps needed to generate a robust offsetting and carbon pricing strategy  
• Better understand UKGBC’s guidance and how to implement the recommendations  
• Apply new skills and practice setting a carbon price with an interactive challenge 
• Collaborate and meet others in industry, sharing challenges and opportunities.  

Hosts and speakers

• Alex Benstead, Senior Advisor – Advancing Net Zero, UKGBC.
• Stephen Thompson, Associate, Arup.
• Plus an offsetting provider to be announced!

Who should join the course?

This workshop is designed for decision-makers and their teams who are embarking on a net zero strategy that includes offsetting and/or carbon pricing.

Climate Change Mitigation

We are in a decisive decade for climate action and with a decreasing number of years left to achieve 2030 climate targets, radical and rapid transformation from businesses and the global economy is essential.

View more

The post Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Masterclass (London) appeared first on UKGBC.

The need for rapid decarbonisation is clear. The impacts of climate change are being felt here and now, with average global temperature records being broken around the world. We need to accelerate action to mitigate our impacts on our planet – and to adapt to a changing climate. But we’re not moving fast enough. UKGBCs Whole Life Carbon Roadmap indicates that continuing business as usual would see the sector fall well short of the 2050 net zero target.  

Organisations across the built environment value chain need to play their part in reaching net zero, and each and every person in those organisations can support the transformation.    

That means you!  

Net Zero

‘Net zero’ can appear confusing, complicated, and highly challenging to achieve, but UKGBC are here to help you understand what this means, why it’s important and what actions you can take. 

This webinar series will build your core net zero knowledge through exploring key concepts, ideas and solutions needed to reach net zero across our built environment. Each session will delve into a new subject, from measuring carbon, to retrofit and much more. And this year, we’ll focus on public buildings, and how they can be designed, built, retrofitted, operated and maintained to achieve net zero.  

UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero team will provide expert guidance across the series, alongside inspirational examples of success and case studies from UKGBC members. Each session will allow for questions, giving you the opportunity to ask our experts and guests anything you want.  

With a new government comes the opportunity for change across our industry in how our non-domestic and public buildings are designed, built, retrofitted, operated and maintained. Join us as we explore the core topics of net zero needed to radically transform the sustainability of the built environment.   

Series detail 

Each webinar will run from 09:30 – 10:30 GMT (with an extended Q&A from 10:30-10:45)  

Why attend?  

Every one of us needs to be part of the journey to a net zero, sustainable built environment. As organisations set carbon reduction targets and progress towards more sustainable business objectives, it’s important to understand some of these key concepts to ensure you are not left behind.  

From attending this series, you will:

• Understand what net zero carbon means, and how it can be achieved in the built environment sector and how it relates to nature, resilience and adaptation.  
• See how organisations are already rising to the challenge. 
• Be inspired to participate in sustainability action in your organisation.  
• Know where to find further UKGBC resources and learning.

Who should attend?

These sessions are designed for anyone who’s interested in knowing more about net zero in the built environment – they’re open to all. They will cover essential knowledge, not detailed, technical advice.  

You could be early in your career, or keen to know more about what net zero means for your team or role, or you may have recognised that you need to know more on this topic to succeed in your organisation. Either way, this series will give you the essential knowledge you need to support the decarbonisation of the built environment.  

Webinar hosts  

This series will be hosted by Joe Pitts-Cunningham, Experiential Learning Manager at UKGBC.  

Each episode, Joe will be joined by a UKGBC expert from across the team, and several members who will present a case study.  

CPD hours (if attending all 6 webinars): 6hrs  

These webinars are free to UKGBC members.  

If you’re unsure if your organisation is a member, please check our Membership Directory.    

UKGBC cancellation and refund policy 

Please see our website for more details on our cancellations and refunds: https://ukgbc.org/ukgbc-cancellation-and-refund-policy/ 

The post UKGBC Advancing Net Zero: Essential Knowledge Series 2024 (Online) appeared first on UKGBC.

The suite of learning resources here aims to demystify key sustainability concepts and create a common language for non-technical experts to confidently get involved in sustainable building topics.

Using jargon-free, easy-to-understand language, UKGBC’s Bitesize Learning provides a jumping-off point for non-sustainability professionals to begin their sustainability learning journey.

Our learning resource have been split into topic areas to make them easier to navigate.

On this page

• Discover the new set of finance guides
• Net Zero Carbon
• Nature, Resource use and the Circular Economy
• Resilience
• Sustainability across the Value Chain
• Retrofit

What’s available?

Alongside infographics, definitions and fact sheets, we also have the following 1 and 2 page guides:

Explainer Guides (1-page) break down key climate and nature topics into digestible chunks outlining:

• How it is defined.
• Its importance in tackling the climate crisis.
• How it relates to the built environment.
• Relevant resources to consolidate knowledge.

Practical Guides (2-pages) detail sustainable building across the value chain outlining:

• Key principles.
• Practical approaches for stakeholders.
• Case studies to bring the approach to life.
• Further resources to continue learning.

New Climate Finance Guides

Net Zero Carbon

Net Zero & Whole Life Carbon

Carbon Pricing, Carbon Offsetting & Renewable Energy

Nature, Resource use and the Circular Economy

Explainer and Practical Guides

Factsheets & Infographics

Something missing? Tell us what else you would like bitesize learning on via this short feedback form.

Using these guides

If you’d like to use these guides within your organisation, please contact Learning@UKGBC.org

Want to learn in a different way?

Sustainability Essentials for the Built Environment Email Course

Build your sustainability knowledge through this informative email-delivered learning opportunity.

Learn more

So What Can I Do? UKGBC Video Guides to Sustainability

This video series will help you understand sustainability in the built environment – and identify what role you can play in its transformation.

Learn more

The post Bitesize Learning appeared first on UKGBC.

We know we need to rapidly decarbonise all aspects of the built environment, and quickly. Through minimum energy intensity and embodied carbon targets for most assets, we can tackle a large part of the decarbonisation challenge. However good those targets are, they’re unlikely to reach true net zero. And that’s why a carbon offsetting and pricing strategy is needed – to manage the residual emissions. 

It is this final approach – furthering climate mitigation through offsetting and internal carbon pricing – that is the subject of this masterclass, built on the recent publication of Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Guidance from UKGBC. 

About the course 

This in-person workshop will help you to understand and use the guidance developed by UKGBC. It will walk you through the four-steps to creating an offsetting and carbon pricing plan. Through group work, discussion and challenges, the workshop will be an interactive and engaging way to better understand the complex world of offsetting and carbon pricing and set you on a path to developing your own strategy.  

In joining this course, you will:

• Learn in detail about each of the steps for setting an ambitious carbon offsetting plan 
• Explore internal carbon pricing and learn about how you can develop a pricing strategy for your organisation 
• Clearly understand how to implement UKGBC’s Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Guidance 
• Connect with others in industry, sharing and learning from each other 

Why join the course?

• Learn from UKGBC experts about the steps needed to generate a robust offsetting and carbon pricing strategy  
• Practice setting a carbon prince through interactive challenge 
• Collaborate and meet others in industry, sharing challenges and opportunities.  
• Learn from UKGBC experts about the steps needed to generate a robust offsetting and carbon pricing strategy  
• Better understand UKGBC’s guidance and how to implement the recommendations  
• Apply new skills and practice setting a carbon price with an interactive challenge 
• Collaborate and meet others in industry, sharing challenges and opportunities.  

Hosts and speakers

• Alex Benstead, Senior Advisor – Advancing Net Zero, UKGBC.
• Stephen Thompson, Associate, Arup.
• Chris Zair, Head of Partnerships, UNDO

Who should join the course?

This workshop is designed for decision-makers and their teams who are embarking on a net zero strategy that includes offsetting and/or carbon pricing.

Climate Change Mitigation

We are in a decisive decade for climate action and with a decreasing number of years left to achieve 2030 climate targets, radical and rapid transformation from businesses and the global economy is essential.

View more

The post Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Masterclass (London) appeared first on UKGBC.

As the Net Zero Solutions Forum takes continues to take shape throughout 2024, the sessions will focus on different topic including: Retrofit, Whole Life Carbon, Organisational Commitments and Finance & Value.

Each event, both online and in-person, will follow the same base structure:

• Opening case study presentation – A UKGBC member has the opportunity to bring forward either a case study that highlights a successfully implemented solution or a challenge that they’d like to work on with the forum
• Open Q&A / discussion
• Wrapping up with networking in smaller groups

Principles

The forum is founded on the following broad principles:

• Solutions focused: the forum should actively create, promote, and share solutions to delivering net zero carbon buildings at scale.
• Peer-to-peer learning: the forum should encourage the sharing of strategies to help deliver net zero, including organisational net zero commitments.
• Advocate: the forum should use its collective strength to demonstrate leadership on net zero in the construction and property sector

Ways of working

Forum meetings take place roughly every six weeks, alternating between in-person and online events. In line with our ambition to create a national UKGBC network, our in-person meetings will rotate around several locations across the UK.

Please note the forum is currently only open to UKGBC member organisations. For more information on the many benefits of membership, please see this page.

For more information please email Alex Benstead or Emily Dodkin.

Advancing Net Zero Partners

Our Advancing Net Zero work is made possible thanks to our programme partners

Climate Change Mitigation

We are in a decisive decade for climate action and with a decreasing number of years left to achieve 2030 climate targets, radical and rapid transformation from businesses and the global economy is essential.

View more

The post Net Zero Solutions Forum – Bristol appeared first on UKGBC.

The built environment, which includes key sectors such as property and construction, is the largest source of climate emissions in the UK economy after surface transport. It is unlike any other industry when it comes to global and domestic emissions reduction, given its all-encompassing ability to improve lives, enhance resilience, fosters skills, create jobs, and promote equity.

This analysis – a progress report updating data related to UKGBC’s Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap published at COP26 in Glasgow – reveals that between 2018 and 2022, carbon emissions from the UK built environment fell by 13%, significantly less than the 19% required to meet the UK’s net zero pathway. In real terms, the shortfall represents 11 MtCO₂e of carbon emissions, equivalent to the annual polluting output of 6.5 million cars.  

Such insufficient progress over four years will require key built environment sectors to decarbonise nearly twice as fast over the next two years in order to achieve emissions reductions reflective of the net zero pathway established by the Whole Life Carbon Roadmap.

Such insufficient progress over four years will require key built environment sectors to decarbonise nearly twice as fast over the next two years in order to achieve emissions reductions reflective of the net zero pathway established by the Whole Life Carbon Roadmap.

The update also examines areas of the industry where faster progress is needed, and assesses the impact of the pandemic on decarbonisation. Key findings include:

• Despite a substantial reduction in construction sector output during the pandemic, embodied carbon emissions fell by just 4% since 2018, less than a quarter of the pathway target
• Covid-19 had a notable impact on energy demand and operational emissions from buildings, but recent record lows in domestic energy consumption were driven by record warm temperatures together with rising energy prices and high costs of living in 2022

Commenting on these findings Smith Mordak, Chief Executive at UKGBC :

Unprecedented global events have shaped the story of the built environment over the last 4 years, but despite forced emissions reductions during the pandemic, this progress report makes one thing clear: our industry is not moving fast enough.”

The report also highlights a critical and substantial gap in national policies that could make-or-break the built environment’s efforts to meet the required decarbonisation pace and scale. The report calls on political leaders to reject the recent U-turn away from ambitious net zero action, instead calling for urgent government action in three key policy areas:

• A step-change in national government investment in home retrofit to make it affordable and accessible to all – including a stamp duty incentive to reward home decarbonisation
• A more robust regulatory landscape to ensure new homes and buildings will be genuinely ready for a net zero future.
• Clear national legislation to give climate and nature priority in planning decisions, and a system of local carbon budgets to enable local decision-making aligned with national targets.

Reflecting on the political context, Mordak adds:

The timeline to meet net zero cannot extend. We must now reduce emissions twice as fast as we have been to get back on track. The later we leave it, the harder it will be and the greater the missed opportunities for tackling interconnected nature and social crises. Industry and government need to work hand in hand to create decisive change and bridge the emissions gap that sets us on path to deliver net zero.”

This project forms part of WorldGBC’s #BuildingLife collaboration project, made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ikea Foundation and Laudes Foundation.

Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap

The industry’s pathway to net zero by 2050.

View more

The post Built environment must decarbonise nearly twice as fast by 2025, says UKGBC analysis appeared first on UKGBC.

To coincide with Built Environment Day at COP28, and to mark two years since the launch of the Roadmap, UKGBC reconvened our project partners to provide an update on the built environment sector’s progress towards meeting our net zero trajectory. This is in the form of a “Progress Report”. This Progress Report reviews progress in the four years since the 2018 baseline of the Roadmap. It presents the operational carbon, embodied carbon, and F-gas emissions of the entire UK domestic, non-domestic, and infrastructure stock based on reported data, for comparison against the progress determined to be necessary by the original Roadmap.

Overall, the Progress Report provides insight into progress (or lack thereof) on emissions reduction in the sector over the previous 4 years. The data and key findings are supplemented with narrative reflecting on the lack of supporting policy framework to deliver on the WLC Roadmap’s pathway to net zero.

Building Life

With thanks to our Building Life partners for their ongoing support

Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap

The industry’s pathway to net zero by 2050.

View more

The post Whole Life Carbon Roadmap Progress Report appeared first on UKGBC.