The CSIC has published its Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment for use by clients, consultants, contractors and supply chain members across all sectors of the built environment – and leading industry figures will be speaking at an online launch event this Thursday afternoon. (17/6/21).

The code has been developed on behalf of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and is part of the CLC’s Construct Zero Initiative. Developed by the Achieving Net Zero Cross-Industry Working Group, convened by CSIC, the code is described a first step to facilitate action towards reducing carbon emissions (CO2eq) related to design, construction, maintenance and operation of built assets. 

The working group was formed in March 2020 to explore challenging yet practical ways to move the infrastructure and wider construction industry towards meeting the UK’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

Currently the Working Group comprises over 40 representatives from a diverse range of consultants, contractors, industry groups and local and central government, including Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy; Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Environment Agency, Highways England, HS2 Ltd, Skanska UK, and the National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF).

Now, leading sustainability experts, industry and government representatives will be speaking at the online launch of the code at 1pm this Thursday, 17 June, hosted by the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC), at the University of Cambridge.

The launch event will be introduced by Hannah Vickers, CEO, Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), and Jennifer Schooling OBE, director of CSIC, and will include short presentations by the organisations which are currently conducting trials of the code.

These include James Wilcox, representing the National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF); Kat Ibbotson, Net Zero Carbon infrastructure programme manager at the Environment  Agency, and Chris Hayes, sustainability operations director, Skanska UK. 

Feedback from the trials, which are being conducted across different organisational scales, have helped to shape the development of the code, which is broad in intent and designed for participating organisations to share experience and learn from each other.

Dr Jennifer Schooling, director of CSIC, said: “It is essential that our industry reduces carbon emissions and the more organisations that sign up to the Code the more we will achieve. Carbon reduction is much more likely to happen when all organisations within a value chain are committed to working together to reduce their footprint and save costs.  

“Collaboration is the key to success, and with alignment across all parties we can progress towards the net zero carbon objective at the pace required. There are already many excellent examples of carbon reduction measures among our Achieving NetZero Cross-Industry Working Group and the Code builds upon these strengths to provide an encouraging, supportive and collaborative approach to reducing carbon.”  

The launch event will feature short reflections on the trial and the Carbon Reduction Code given by Peter Yates, regional frameworks director, Constructing West Midlands and vice chair, NACF; Charmaine Hughes, programme manager and head of frameworks (NWCH), Manchester City Council, and Fergus Harradence, deputy director, construction, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and will also include Stuart Young of BEIS. 

The hour-long launch event, which is free to register and open to all, will conclude with a Q&A with the speakers.

Following this soft launch, organisations are encouraged to get involved and sign up to committing to the code. The Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment will then be formally launched in the autumn to coincide with the UK hosting the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference at COP26.

Click here to register and join the free online launch of the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment - on Thursday 17 June at 1pm.

Click here to read and sign up for the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment.