The UK is leading the world in affecting carbon reductions and has recently pledged to move to a net zero emissions target by 2050. Yet we still have significant steps to take to meet the ambitious objectives set by the UK government. Trevor Richards, Director of Cogent Consulting, sat down with leaders in sustainability and environmental practices to talk about the challenges of the climate change emergency facing construction professionals.
Barriers to Carbon Neutral
Recognising and finding ways to meet the requirements of changing regulations and policy demands is crucial in reshaping our approach to sustainability. But these changes may not come easily or quickly. The ecological clock is ticking, and we must take urgent action to mitigate the impact of global warming. So, what exactly are the obstacles holding back progress?
"I think the biggest barrier is political. It is not the only obstacle, but it is slowing us down the most." Carla Denyer, Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, explains: "There was an interesting piece of research last year which was the largest study of its kind – a representative sample of thousands of Brits sharing opinions on different climate policies. It was remarkable how radical some of the policies at the top of the list were with a carbon tax on polluting products and services receiving 94% support. We have to be realistic, brand-new technologies will not make an immediate impact. So, it is about rolling out existing proven technologies as fast as we can. The innovation is around doing this quickly and affordably rather than inventing something new."
It is clear from consumer research that there is a significant upturn in demand for sustainable materials and building practises. David Leversha, Director and Net Zero Lead for Property and Buildings at WSP focused on the opportunity. "What I find really interesting is that there is a real opportunity here to be seen as leaders. I think the polling was really fascinating because people want to be informed – so they can do the right thing. Some areas are moving ahead faster than others, so it is cultural change as well as strong leadership that is missing."
Understanding Net Zero
"It is all well in good setting targets and having regulations in place, but unless we have a solution that can address it, we are not going to achieve the objective with the amount of educating we do, even within the industry on the difference between embodied and operational carbon," added Chloe Donovan, Chief Executive for Material Research. "New graduates in architecture and subjects where you would think they would have a really good grasp of this do not necessarily understand the impact material choices have on the ultimate carbon footprint of the building."
Misunderstanding surrounding terms like the carbon agenda and net zero may also contribute to difficulties in creating uniformity in education and training across the sector. Clarification and a better understanding of these goals and how to achieve them are becoming increasingly vital, explains Rodrigo Fernandes, Director, ES(D)G at Bentley Systems. "One of the points is the confusion surrounding net zero. We keep talking about it, but I wonder if senior managers at construction related companies can actually define what net zero is and what they are trying to achieve? I see some businesses putting a lot of effort into communicating what they do around sustainability but without bringing that into the product, corporate, or business strategy they will be at risk. The challenges that we have in front of us in terms of sustainability also create business opportunities. So, the regulation and policies that are important should define some standardisation in terms of reporting and disclosure."
Driving Innovation and New Skills
Circling back to the barriers to achieving sustainable goals, Carla Denyer, Green Party of England and Wales, believes part of the answer lies in the skill sets available in the workforce. Something that both government and businesses have a significant role to play. "I think the skills gap is another challenge. Finding enough people in the construction industry who know how to deliver low carbon building or retrofitting is tough, and this is an area where government has a responsibility. But the industry also has a role to play. Those businesses in a position to invest can help make training happen. We can have the technology, but if we do not have the skills to build it at scale, then we are not going to get there in time."
So, does the answer lie in new innovation or improving existing systems? Certainly long-term, the solution must be found in both. Investment in the strategic planning and development of greener initiatives is paramount, but for rapid and immediate change, knowledge sharing remains vital.
Kate Dougherty, Head of Sustainability and Net Zero for Building Services, WSP said: "I think the UK Green Building Council, RIBA and especially the London Energy Transformation Initiative are fundamental in terms of information share, the resources they are putting out there for free are excellent. When we are talking about design and design related opportunities, it is how we filter this knowledge down into the industry. But then it is up to us as construction professionals to disseminate and make sure there is a level of understanding right throughout our organisations."
Oliver Novakovic, Technical and Innovation Director for Barratt Developments, supports this point. "We all have to make clear our criteria, objectives and drivers, so we can find the right products to meet our collective needs. I do think a lot of it is about open sourcing. We have to pool and share valuable information – government, industry consultants, advisors, universities – to really make this work, because without doubt this is an unprecedented challenge."
The roadmap to net zero construction or even the terminology involved is yet to be clearly defined and without strong direction and leadership supported by product innovation and education to overcome the barriers, there may be deviations along the way.
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