CLC to use COP26 to broker agreement to deliver net zero in the built environment

CLC to use COP26 to broker agreement to deliver net zero in the built environment

As the world prepares for COP26, the time for action and concrete agreement to reduce carbon emissions and invest in our future is now. Government and industry have a crucial opportunity to agree tangible commitments, benefitting future generations across the world.

Our role as part of the Built Environment and Construction Sector (which accounts for 38% of global carbon emissions) is vital. The Construction Leadership Council’s Construct Zero programme is leading the industry’s drive to net zero and has announced its confirmed line-up for ‘Construction: The Built Environment’ at COP26 on 11 November.

The role of our industry young professionals, working in partnership with industry leaders is fundamental to delivering on Net Zero. They have passion, and some fantastic ideas were heard through the youth COP summit in Milan and CLC’s young people’s summit. To facilitate the voice of young professionals, 50% of tickets will be allocated to young professionals.

The session will be co-chaired by Sarah Linnell (Cundall). Sarah brings with her an exciting array of relevant knowledge and experience as a structural engineer turned sustainability engineer. This will provide a great opportunity for young people to engage at this session and work with our industry leaders.

Attendees will also hear from Actuate UK, Saint Gobain and the Construction Industry Council on how they, as Construct Zero partners, are already advancing the importance of retrofit, materials, and design/professional services in delivering Net Zero.

There will be debate on some of Construct Zero’s priorities with four current Business Champions (Keltbray, Costain, Atkins and Travis Perkins), identifying some of the challenges they face, and opportunities to share best practice.

Also beign r eleased is ‘Building a Greener Britain’. This exciting film reaches out into local communities, demonstrating some of the great work taking place across the sector. Streamed online through COP26’s YouTube channel, CLC will be bringing the challenges and opportunities of Net Zero to industry, leaders, SMEs, young industry professionals and the general public. If you want to make a difference to our growing sector, understand in detail how colleagues have overcome similar barriers to what you are experiencing, or have a group of interested young emerging professionals, please sign up and register for the event!

Andy Mitchell, co-chair of the CLC said:

“The world will be watching as the Construction Leadership Council takes the stage as part of events at COP26. I am delighted with our line-up of industry experts who can speak about the role that construction can play in delivering net zero carbon. We hope that they can lead change not just in the UK but promote better outcomes for construction worldwide”.

Hannah Vickers, CLC CO2nstructZero and Chief of staff at Mace said:

“COP26 has the potential to be a landmark moment for the planet, and it’s outcome will have a great impact on the construction sector in the UK. The Construction Leadership Council has a huge role to play as our sector transforms itself over the coming years, and we’re very pleased to able to announce the line up for our event on Cities and the Built Environment Day at the conference. I would encourage everyone in the industry to get involved in anyway you can – our industry is changing quickly, and we must work together current and future leaders to ensure success”.

It’s free to attend, a great learning opportunity live in the COP Green Zone and an opportunity for you to put your questions to our speakers. It promises to be a fascinating series of debates as the construction sector engages at COP26!

Only by working together, in partnership, and building on COP26, will we collectively build back better, faster and greener.

FIS Sustainability Hub

FIS is committed to taking a pro-active lead, not just in supporting the UK ambition to net zero carbon by 2050, but delivering profound transformation within our supply chain on all aspects of ethical and environmental sustainability. We have created this hub to bring together resources and information that will support your journey to net zero.

New Net Zero Strategy for decarbonising the UK economy

New Net Zero Strategy for decarbonising the UK economy

Ahead of the COP 26 summit next week, the Government has published a Net Zero Strategy setting out how the UK will reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The Strategy sets out an economy-wide plan for how British businesses and consumers will be assisted in making the transition to clean energy and will support the creation of thousands of high-skilled jobs in new industries across the UK.

Four government documents were issued and below is a link to each document and a very short comment. 

UK Government Net Zero Strategy https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy 
This is the overarching strategy of how to reach the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target and the interim milestones of a 68% cut by 2030 and 78% by 2035.  It is the first such national strategy in the world.

Heat and Buildings Strategy https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-and-buildings-strategy 
Moving Buildings towards Net Zero is a combination and balance of making buildings more energy efficient and providing non-fossil fuel based heating systems (e.g. heat pumps, heat networks or hydrogen).  In this Strategy the withdrawal of gas boilers in favour of heat pumps looms large, with insulation and retrofit taking a low profile.  There seems little acknowledgement that a whole house approach is needed if heat is to be provided by a heat pump, i.e. are the radiators suitable, is there a water cylinder to store heat.  There does seem more optimism than reality that the price of a heat pump will plummet in a very short time period to be equivalent to the price of a gas boiler.  Installing such kit will in any case require that a house is well insulated otherwise the heat pump is likely to fail to deliver the comfort required.

The grants announced to be available from April 2022 will help only 90,000 homes install low carbon heating solutions.  The target is for 600,000 heat pumps to be installed annually from 2028.  Heat pumps currently are much more expensive than gas boilers, are rather large, need an outside wall and require an internal water cylinder for heat storage.

(For an excellent overview of what is required for a home to have an efficient heating system using a heat pump read the HHIC report:  Heating Up to Net Zero).

 Another area of controversy is the validity of using EPC band C as meaning that a home has an efficiency rating suitable to help us reach Net Zero – many experts very much disagree and this has been well documented in a number of reports.

Tucked away in a quiet corner is the announcement of a consultation on a market-based mechanism for low carbon heat which is to introduce an obligation on the manufacturers of gas and oil boilers sold on the UK market to achieve the sale of a certain number of heat pumps, and potentially other low-carbon heating appliances, proportional to their boiler sales in each period.   Lets hope consumers are willing to buy the heat pumps produced !

The potential opportunities of hydrogen will await the outcome of current pilot trials.

Treasury’s Net Zero Review https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-review-final-report
Without financing the Net Zero Strategy remains a wish list, and it is widely reported that the Chancellor is not fully on board as to how to pay for the Net Zero transition, especially with the decline of fuel duty as people make the switch to electric cars.  Clearly the tax regime will need a fundamental review.  The Review considers the potential macroeconomic effects of the transition; the potential economic opportunities and risks of the transition; the factors affecting a household’s exposure to the transition; the policy levers that could support the transition; and the likely fiscal implications of the transition”.

 

Treasury Greening Finance: A Roadmap to Sustainable Investing  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greening-finance-a-roadmap-to-sustainable-investing
This is about ways to ensure that information on sustainability is available to financial market decision-makers, that they act upon it, and that “financial flows across the economy shift to align with a net zero and nature-positive economy”.   Existing disclosure requirements will be streamlined – such as the UK’s commitment to make reporting aligned with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) mandatory – with new requirements, including on reporting environmental impact.

Further information is available on the Government’s Net Zero Strategy is available here.

Calculating your orgnaisation's carbon footprint

Join us on 8 November, to see a demonstration a new free tool developed by the Supply Chain Sustainability School that enables organisations to measure their corporate emission footprint. This webinar will also provide an opportunity for you to put any questions forward to the tool developer.

FIS Sustainability Hub

FIS is committed to taking a pro-active lead, not just in supporting the UK ambition to net zero carbon by 2050, but delivering profound transformation within our supply chain on all aspects of ethical and environmental sustainability. We have created this hub to bring together resources and information that will support your journey to net zero.

Your business journey to Net Zero

Your business journey to Net Zero

Ahead of the UN climate change conference (COP26) hosted in Glasgow later this month, two briefing sessions will take place next week for businesses to hear from senior UK officials on plans for COP, as well as how they can follow and support the activities going on in the blue and green zones and regional activity.

  • Wednesday 20 October 09:00-10:00 BST. Link to join is here
  • Thursday 21 October 16:30-17:30 BST. Link to join is here

Small businesses from across the UK are invited to join the green business revolution and commit to becoming more sustainable. By November, the aim is for as many UK small businesses as possible to join the UN’s ‘Race to Zero’, a global effort to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we all generate to zero by 2050.

Small businesses can sign up to the Race to Zero by visiting the new Business Climate Hub which is an official UK Government site offering practical steps on cutting emissions and inspiring success stories from other businesses. Taking action on climate change will help businesses to grow, seize new opportunities and adapt against the challenges of a changing planet. Reducing emissions can lower running costs, save money, attract new customers and help to start a green business movement.

 

FIS Sustainability Hub

FIS is committed to taking a pro-active lead, not just in supporting the UK ambition to net zero carbon by 2050, but delivering profound transformation within our supply chain on all aspects of ethical and environmental sustainability. We have created this hub to bring together resources and information that will support your journey to net zero.

Do you have what it takes to help save the world?

Do you have what it takes to help save the world?

  • Do you have what it takes to help save the world?
  • Can you bring your creativity to solve the biggest question faced by the construction sector?
  • Are you itching to be at the heart of efforts to deliver net zero carbon?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to all of these questions, and you are a young professional working in construction then you are invited to take part in the Construction Leadership Council’s Dragons’ Den competition for proposals to crack down on carbon.

Your ideas are needed for how the industry can make a step change in its carbon performance. All proposals are welcome and encouraged.

If you have a proposal that is developed to the point where it could potentially be rolled out with industry with the right backing, then the CLC can bring that. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) reaches into every part of our great industry, and it can leverage its power to make your proposal a reality.

To secure this support, you are invited to step into the CLC’s Dragons’ Den where shortlisted applicants will be able to present their proposals to industry leaders.

Alongside support to get your idea off the ground the winning proposal will also bag a £1000 cash award donated by the Builders Merchants Federation, and mentoring with a CLC Business Leader.

Are you ready to that enter the CLC Dragons’ Den? If so, please go here for more details.  Closing date midday 8 October.

 

Are you are Net Zero Hero?

Are you are Net Zero Hero?

As part of Net Zero Week at the FIS we are supporting the ‘Heroes of Net Zero’ competition to find the UK’s best small businesses taking innovative steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The best entries will be invited to attend the COP26 international climate change summit in Glasgow on 2 November, where the winners will be announced and receive an exclusive prize package worth £4,500:

  • 21 hours consultancy with an Energy Manager and one-year free access to ‘Business Energy Intelligence’ energy management platform, worth £3,500, from SSE;
  • Six hours of bespoke mentoring with a NatWest Enterprise Manager from its Climate Accelerator programme, helping winning businesses gain climate friendly skills in accessing new markets to attracting talent, and;
  • Up to £1,000 in vouchers to access a brand-new digital advertising support package from BT to grow your business

To take part in the Heroes of Net Zero competition, entrants must tell us in 200 words the exciting measures they have taken on the journey to net-zero. Reaching net-zero means the amount of greenhouse gases your business produces is no more than the amount taken away, eliminating all negative impact on the planet. Submissions can be made via an online form at the competition website.

The competition is open for entries from Thursday 9 September until 6 October, with judging happening during the week of 11 October.

The competition is open to businesses across the United Kingdom with fewer than 50 employees, the competition will be split into two categories:

  • Micro businesses – 1-9 employees
  • Small businesses – 10-50 employees

In order to enter the competition, businesses must first make a commitment at the UK Business Climate Hub to achieve net zero by 2050, in line with the Government’s own climate commitment.

The shortlist and winners in each category will be selected by judges Andrew Griffith MP, the UK’s Business Net Zero Champion, James Close from NatWest Group, Gabrielle Giner from BT, and Marta Smart from SSE.

FIS Members can recieve support in developing a carbon reduction plan via the FIS Sustainability Hub.

Members are being encouraged to share positive examples of carbon reduction on social media via #FISNetZeroChallenge

Each week in September FIS is theming around an element of transformation in construction via our Annual Conference: Embracing Change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector

Join the conversation #FISNetZeroChallenge.

Public sector to mandate Carbon Reduction Plans on all projects over £5 million

Public sector to mandate Carbon Reduction Plans on all projects over £5 million

In a week themed with a focus on Net Zero in the Finishes and Interiors Sector, new and stricter guidelines have been revealed to focus attention on Carbon Reduction in Central Government contracts.

From 30 September 2021, contractors bidding for Central Government contracts worth more than £5 million a year will be required to provide a Carbon Reduction Plan, which confirms their commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 and sets out the environmental management measures they will have in place during the performance of the contract. Carbon Reduction Plans must be updated at least once a year and meet the standard set out in Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21, which includes a template that contractors can use.

FIS Members can recieve support in developing a carbon reduction plan via the FIS Sustainability Hub.

Members are being encouraged to share positive examples of carbon reduction on social media via #FISNetZeroChallenge

Each week in September FIS is theming around an element of transformation in construction via our Annual Conference: Embracing Change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector