The UK Government has committed to reduce carbon emissions by 100% by 2050 compared to 1990. Buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of CO2eq emissions in the UK in relation to the energy they use during their use. The impact of construction, which includes the manufacturing of products, transport to site, installation, maintenance, replacement and disposal is responsible for an estimated additional 11% of global CO2eq emissions. In the UK, those emissions are estimated to be 3 times the combined UK footprint for aviation and shipping. However, those emissions have to date not been unregulated.

On 2nd February 2022, Duncan Baker, MP for North Norfolk, successfully presented a bill to regulate embodied carbon emissions to Parliament. This follows from the industry initiative around the creation of Part Z. A second hearing will take place mid-March. This is an important step for the UK Government to recognize the importance of embodied carbon in construction and encouraging reduction.

Watch the video of the hearing here: Parliamentlive.tv – House of Commons at 16.27