Amit Oberoi is executive chairman of the Considerate Constructors’ Scheme
Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation, and it is obvious more needs to be done to mitigate its worst effects. Construction is uniquely placed to be a major part of the solution, not only in reducing its own carbon output but also by building the infrastructure of the future that will power the country’s push to net zero. But if more isn’t done by the industry now to self-regulate, regulation will be imposed upon it.
A quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions – 40-50 million tonnes of CO2 annually – come from construction. The industry is fully aware of this. Research carried out by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) found that over 90 per cent of those working in construction believe there is an issue with the amount of CO2 emissions the industry produces and 60 per cent believe not enough is being done.
But from that starting point also lies opportunity. Some 83 per cent of respondents to the CCS survey believe that construction can significantly reduce its CO2 output. And although in many ways the industry is already rising to the challenge – exploring new materials and practices, innovating new ways to reduce waste, and creating new initiatives to hold the trade to account – more still needs to be done.
One of the key ways construction is working to reach net zero is through the building of the very infrastructure that will be used to fuel the energy revolution. A key part of the prime minister’s new net-zero plan will be a massive expansion of offshore wind, nuclear power and carbon capture. That infrastructure won’t exist without the construction industry.
Although we want to see more action taken to cut down carbon emissions, it is crucial that government policy doesn’t inadvertently hinder its own efforts by negatively impacting the construction industry. For example, SMEs are facing a very real risk of falling into bankruptcy following the government’s increase in employer National Insurance contributions.
Next steps
So where does the industry go from here? To start with, a crucial step is laying out clear goals. There has been a surge in initiatives, resources and assessment methods over the past decade looking to incentivise the green transition within construction. A joined-up approach is taking a while, although the government published its draft net zero carbon buildings standard in September, backed by many of the major bodies.
For self-regulation to work, the path for construction companies needs to be accessible and clear. Much of the complexity and fragmentation that impedes governance in the sector can be effectively overcome by a single independent body, headed by a construction regulator. One of the major aspects of the CCS’s Considerate Code of Practice is prioritising the issues that affect our planet, championing sustainability, decarbonisation and the natural environment. It is our job to push stakeholders to be more proactive on the environment and more transparent about what they are doing to make change.
If we as an industry don’t self-police and get to grips with arguably the biggest threat to life on earth, then that policing will be imposed upon us.
