11 organisations call for embodied carbon regulation commitments – Planning, Building & Construction Today

UK political party leaders have been urged to make manifesto commitments for embodied carbon regulation in the UK by a variety of construction and built environment experts

A variety of construction industry bodies have joined forces to send a consistent message to UK political party leaders about the urgent need for regulation of embodied carbon emissions in construction.

UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Construction Industry Council (CIC), Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), UK Architects Declare, RIBA, RICS, Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), and Part Z have asserted that UK policy has stalled and urgent action is needed.

A paper has been launched calling for specific embodied carbon regulation

Around 1 in 10 tonnes of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions are “embodied carbon” emissions. These relate to the production and use of construction materials, which account for a substantial part of the UK’s overall carbon emissions.

Will Arnold, head of climate action at the Institution of Structural Engineers, explains: “These equate to 64m tonnes CO2e per year, more than the country’s aviation and shipping emissions combined. Despite their magnitude, embodied carbon emissions remain unregulated in the UK.”

The paper calls for commitments to embodied carbon regulation to be added to party manifestos, to take effect within two years of starting government.

Additionally, the experts list specific steps for action:

• In 2024: Policy signalled confirming the dates and interventions below.
• By 2026: Mandate the measurement and reporting of whole-life carbon emissions for all projects with a gross internal area of more than 1000m2 or that create more than 10 dwellings.
• By 2028: Introduce legal limits on the upfront embodied carbon emissions [those emissions due to the use of materials in the initial construction] of such projects, with a view to future revision and tightening as required.

The authors note that these policy recommendations would be complementary to the ‘carbon pricing mechanism’ announced by the government in 2023 and due to be introduced in 2027, as well as to existing UK initiatives that incentivise the use of lower carbon cement and steel.

“Embodied carbon regulation is critical to reaching net zero”

Louise Hutchins, head of policy for UKGBC says: “With time running out to keep global temperatures to 1.5C it’s astounding that 1 in 10 tonnes of UK climate emissions are still unregulated. From Europe to California, embodied carbon emissions are already regulated so we know it’s feasible. And we know from our members that industry is keen to play its part, but it needs government to set a nationwide approach to drive action at scale and pace.”

Muyiwa Oki, RIBA president says: “Our message is clear – embodied carbon regulation is critical to reaching net zero. As built environment professionals we understand our duty to reduce emissions and have been leading the charge. We now need urgent action from the next government to deliver a greener future that we deserve.”