There is widespread recognition of the importance of sustainability, but insights from Ramboll’s Sustainable Buildings Market Study highlights several gaps between ambitions and actionable strategies. Scott Brookes, director at Ramboll, takes a look
The IPCC’s recent Sixth Assessment Report has warned that the rate and scale of current efforts is insufficient to tackle climate change and the need to accelerate climate action has never been more pressing.
This gap between what is needed and what is agreed continues to grow and can only be addressed through collaboration and a joint commitment to a green transition.
Having run since 2008, Ramboll’s Sustainable Buildings Market Study (SBMS) gauges industry partners and stakeholders to identify these specific gaps across the often nebulous and rapidly shifting sustainability space.
This year’s study has once again provided valuable feedback, drawing insight from stakeholders across the business environment, including investors, developers, contractors, engineers, architects and designers. The questions speak to our industry partners’ pain points – which challenges are they struggling with? Where do they see opportunities and upcoming trends?
The Sustainable Buildings Market Study provides insights into a range of areas, including drivers and barriers for sustainability, net zero carbon and circular economy strategies , in addition to certification schemes and benefits, data collection and reporting , and future trends and technology in the built environment.
Turning ambition into action
One striking finding from this year’s study is the disparity between the recognition of sustainability’s importance and its integration into business strategies.
While an overwhelming 98% of respondents considered sustainability crucial for successful business operations, only 50% had actually embedded net zero buildings into their organisation’s 2030 strategy, up from 30% in 2021’s survey. This inconsistency underscores the need to transform ambition into tangible action.
While various company-specific barriers exist – whether legal, technological or economic – these results serve as a reminder that to avoid greenwashing, intent must always be followed up by proactive integration into strategy and business processes.
Consistent carbon assessments
Of those who do have a strategy, 90% have announced carbon targets. At Ramboll, we have longer-term goals for the decarbonisation of buildings, as well as specific targets tuned to our different building markets, but across the industry, we must have consistent carbon assessment approaches.
Different countries and regions take different approaches, often adopting significant differences in system boundaries and element scope, as well as more subtle differences like floor area and reference period, complicating the assessment process. Each of these variables muddies the picture for asset owners, developers and stakeholders, particularly across portfolios. Addressing this issue to promote a standardised approach to carbon assessment is vital.
What are the barriers to sustainability?
Higher investment costs emerged as respondents’ primary barrier. This aligns with the IPCC report, which emphasises the need for substantially increased investment levels to accelerate decarbonisation.
While often a “hard sell”, these capital outlays avoid the stranding of assets, futureproof against regulatory pressures but also lead to improved performance, lower operational expenditures and greater profits.
Policy and regulation also play a vital role in driving sustainability efforts, as indicated by the greater number of respondents in the UK who felt that political incentives were an issue compared with Denmark, which recently implemented carbon regulations.
Furthermore, the study revealed a lack of climate literacy and skills — as sustainability becomes ingrained in standard practices, the industry must evolve and adapt to new ideas, strategies, and language.
The rise of the circular economy
Almost two-thirds of respondents considered the “circular economy” the most important trend for the construction and real estate sector, representing an increase from 49% in 2021’s survey.
Further, 60% of organisations stated an increased focus on refurbishment, suggesting an increasing appreciation for embodied carbon and our existing building stock’s importance in any future urban prosperity. Undue focus on new build and future technologies will not allow us to meet the Paris Agreement targets, with upwards of 80% of today’s buildings still to be operational in 2050.
Ramboll’s Sustainable Buildings Market Study has highlighted the importance of translating sustainability ambitions into actionable strategies, ensuring consistent carbon assessment approaches and the importance of working to overcome barriers of higher investment costs, lack of policy and regulation, and the need for ongoing learning and adaptation.
By acting on these findings, the industry can play a crucial role in closing the climate action gap and creating a sustainable future.
Scott Brookes
Director
Ramboll
Tel: +44 (0)20 7631 5291
