Secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, has publicly recognised the construction industry’s contribution to achieving net zero.

Speaking at this week’s virtual Business 7 Summit (or ‘B7’), which welcomes around 60 CEO’s from leading UK and global companies across the G7 countries and feeds into the G7 Summit programme, Kwarteng set out his priorities and views on business leadership, highlighting that over 58 UK construction businesses have already signed-up to Race to Zero, including firms such as Lendlease and Multiplex.

The secretary of state also highlighted the UK’s leading consultancy businesses working in the built environment, who have today (10.5.21) collectively committed to offering ambitious design options and advice that are fully compatible with net zero outcomes to their clients. 

This means that the expert advice received by financiers, asset owners and operators will now be encouraging, and actively driving towards, ambitious net zero choices. These firms are respected around the globe for their expertise and include AECOM, Arcadis, Arup, Atkins, Buro Happold, Jacobs, Mott MacDonald, Mace, Turner & Townsend and WSP.

Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK’s construction and engineering industries are leading the world in the drive to cut emissions, and I am thrilled to see so many businesses from all over the globe share this ambition. As we build back better, the commitments made at this summit will support the construction industry to make this essential low carbon transition and I look forward to working closely with the sector and the Construction Leadership Council on this journey.”

Hannah Vickers, chief executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and CO2nstructZero lead at the CLC said: “I’m delighted to see ACE members among those demonstrating the leadership required if our industry is to play its part in helping society to meet its ambitious net zero targets.

“The UK’s leading global consultancy businesses are well advanced in achieving net zero on their direct emissions. In order to deliver significant reductions to society’s carbon emissions, these firms are now also committing to proactively shaping their clients’ decisions and approach. This means that more projects will start out with net zero at their core, delivering a positive knock-on effect along the entire construction supply chain.”