Opinion

Construction and carbon: no news is good news

Paul Toyne gives an end of year report on construction’s progress in lowering carbon emissions. In terms of the numbers it's been far from spectacular but the ground has been laid for some real reductions in the years ahead he says.

This autumn began with the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change telling us our world is facing “severe, widespread, and irreversible impacts” unless carbon emissions are cut sharply and rapidly. The most damning part of the report is that while carbon emissions should be falling to zero they are instead rising.

Our industry’s part of this almost overwhelming challenge is outlined in the UK government’s Industrial Strategy, of which Construction 2025 is part, stating a goal of 50% lower emissions for our industry, together with a 30% lower target for costs and a 50% target for faster deliver by 2025.  But do we have a hope of meeting these challenges?

"The Supply Chain Sustainability School, set up in 2012, is doing great work in our supply chain to improve their sustainability performance through specialist training. The school now has over 7000 members, including for the first time this year some large customers such as National Grid and Grosvenor."

To answer this we need to find out what we’ve managed so far. In 2007, our industry and government came together within the Strategic Forum for Construction Strategy where we committed to a four year,  15% carbon reduction target.  But we needed to know how to get there so a group of us, which I chaired, came together as the ‘Carbon’ working group, later to become part of the Green Construction ‘Greening the Industry Group’.

At first we were in unchartered territory so we had to agree the scope of what the target should cover, define construction processes and associated transport, and agree the methodology to create a baseline, from which we could assess future performance. Based on a first assessment, (that covered only England), we went on to identify sources of emissions for the industry so that we could try to meet any target, let alone 15%.

We have now reported our 2012 assessment and disappointingly instead of meeting the 15% target, we have only managed a 6% reduction. This is because over the period our emissions as an industry actually decreased by 6%, so when you take into account that the construction industry’s output fell 9% in the same period, we actually have seen a 2% increase, so we have seen our performance worsen.

However, it requires leadership at all levels to drive the changes required starting at the top with Government as well as other clients, who need to make sure their procurement strategies drive and reward behaviours and outcomes.

Then as an industry we can renew our efforts. I’m pleased that the 28 contracting members of UKCG, including my own company Balfour Beatty, have made environment commitments which have been signed by their boards which will include regular reporting of carbon emissions and other environment impacts. Now this needs to be enforced and happen, and will certainly be doing this at Balfour Beatty.

Aside from what the big players are doing, our supply chain is making great efforts in this area. They are investing in cutting out both waste and energy, providing clear evidence of how their products are more sustainable, often with the help of their trade associations and their various sustainability strategies. And the Supply Chain Sustainability School, set up in 2012, is doing great work in our supply chain to improve their sustainability performance through specialist training. The school now has over 7000 members, including for the first time this year some large customers such as National Grid and Grosvenor.

And our clients too are on to the agenda. Led by the likes of the Highways Agency, Network Rail and United Utilities, sustainability is now being costed and planned into tenders right the way through the cycle of design, construction, operation and maintenance of assets, and it is at this planning stage that the most can be done to reduce carbon emissions.

Finally, let’s not underestimate the public who, through their reaction to the IPPCC report shown through polls such as the recent Populus poll commissioned by DECC, are clearly expecting more action to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The first term report isn’t good and the accusation could be levelled that we have been complacent, especially in the light of the IPCCs latest report referred to at the beginning. But we are making progress and now we must get on in learning and applying our lessons, to actually lower our carbon emissions in real-terms, before as the IPCC says, it’s too late.

Paul Toyne is director of sustainability at Balfour Beatty and chair of the Sustainability theme group of Constructing Excellence