LEADERS in the construction industry from 11 organisations are demanding policy action from politicians ahead of the election due this year.

The construction leaders have joined forces to send a message to UK political party leaders about the urgent need for regulation of embodied carbon emissions in construction.

They say that regulation is needed as buildings and construction form a big part of UK carbon emissions, which are a main cause of climate change. They say UK policy on this has stalled, and urgent action is needed.

Construction Leaders

The leaders are from UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Construction Industry Council (CIC), Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), UK Architects Declare, RIBA, RICS, Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), and Part Z.

The experts have issued a paper to political leaders with a key ask: to include in manifestos a commitment to reducing embodied carbon emissions in construction within two years of starting government.

Mandatory Carbon Regulation

The experts want specific steps for politicians to act:

This year: policy to confirm the dates for the below.
By 2026: Make mandatory the measurement and reporting of whole-life carbon emissions for all projects with a gross internal area of more than 1000m2 or of more than 10 dwellings.
By 2028: Introduce legal limits on the upfront embodied carbon emissions [those emissions due to the use of materials in the initial construction] of such projects, with a view to future revision and tightening as required.

The group says these actions are essential as around 1 in 10 tonnes of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions are “embodied carbon” emissions. These relate to the production and use of construction materials, which account for a substantial part of the UK’s overall carbon emissions.

Will Arnold, Head of Climate Action at the Institution of Structural Engineers explains: “These equate to 64 million tonnes CO2e per year, more than the country’s aviation and shipping emissions combined. Despite their magnitude, embodied carbon emissions remain unregulated in the UK.”

Time Running Out

Louise Hutchins, Head of Policy for UKGBC says: “With time running out to keep global temperatures to 1.5C it’s astounding that 1 in 10 tonnes of UK climate emissions are still unregulated. From Europe to California, embodied carbon emissions are already regulated so we know it’s feasible. And we know from our members that industry is keen to play its part, but it needs government to set a nationwide approach to drive action at scale and pace.”

The leaders say that these policy recommendations would be complementary to the ‘carbon pricing mechanism’ announced by the government in 2023 and which are due to be introduced in 2027, as well as to existing UK initiatives that incentivise the use of lower carbon cement and steel.

Muyiwa Oki, RIBA President concludes: “Our message is clear – embodied carbon regulation is critical to reaching net zero. As built environment professionals we understand our duty to reduce emissions and have been leading the charge. We now need urgent action from the next government to deliver a greener future that we deserve.”

>> Read more about regulating carbon emissions in the news

The post Construction Leaders Urge Mandatory Carbon Regulation in Party Manifestos appeared first on Roofing Today.