The construction sector has made a number of pledges to improve its carbon output during the UN climate change meeting in Paris …
As one of the major contributors to carbon emissions the construction sector has worked to improve its output and become more efficient.
COP21 has been an opportunity to discuss measures going forward and during Buildings Day, a meeting hosted by the French Minister of Ecology Ségolène Royal, the industry outlined a number of commitments that would result in significant carbon savings.
The list of commitments include corporate pledges from more than 50 businesses in the UK and over 100 globally to deliver carbon reductions. Among the firms giving this commitment is The Crown Estate, British Land, LendLease, Land Securities, and Derwent.
The sector needs to reduce emissions by 84 GtCO2 by 2050. This is the equivalent of taking 22,000 coal-fired power stations out of circulation. To do this, all 74 Green Building Councils will work to drive “Net Zero Carbon” new buildings and large scale energy efficient refurbishment of the existing building stock. Over 1.25 billion sq m of green building space will also be registered, renovated or certified globally.
Green Building Councils have also pledged to train over 127,000 green building professionals by 2020.
CEO of UK-Green Building Council Julie Hirigoyen said: “The eyes of the world are on Paris, but it is not just down to the politicians to make it a success.
“There is a clear business case for the construction and real estate sector to cut carbon emissions from buildings. The climate pledge commitments from our members demonstrate the widespread industry support for urgent action, and point to a market that is transforming itself.”
Terri Wills, CEO of the World Green Building Council, said: “Today marks a turning point in history. Politicians and business leaders now jointly recognise that the way we build can lead to economic growth and prosperity without risking life on the planet, and that the private sector is a driving force in achieving this goal.
“While the building sector is a major contributor to climate change, it is an essential part of the solution – and one that brings immediate benefits to economy and society.
“Green Building Councils, their private sector members and government partners have committed to transform the global buildings industry to not only help us reach a 2 degree world tomorrow, but enable us to realise the direct benefits from a new way of building – today.”
A new Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction was also launched to encourage collaboration and cooperation between global organisations in the sector.
Some of the UK firms pledging commitments include Carillion, which aims to reduce its carbon footprint 24 per cent by 2020 based on a 2011 baseline, and Land Securities, which promised to purchase all its electricity via renewable sources by 2020.