CIBSE at COP28

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19 December 2023

Representatives from The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers attended COP28 in Dubai.

CIBSE President Adrian Catchpole and CEO Ruth Carter represented CIBSE at COP28, attending networking events around the Expo area and at the Dubai campuses of Herriot-Watt and Birmingham universities. They also participated in a series of presentations and panel discussions in the Blue Zone of the event.

Talks given by Adrian covered issues around engineering leadership, the next zero-carbon agenda and climate resilience as well as embodied carbon, highlighting CIBSE’s work on the TM65 embodied energy calculation methodology for building services. 

While in Dubai, Adrian signed a Memorandum Of Understanding between CIBSE and the Society of Sustainability and Green Materials (SSGM), agreeing to collaborate to promote membership and shared priorities. The trip concluded with the CIBSE UAE Annual Dinner and Awards, joining with the region to celebrate the achievements of members and companies.

Adrian and Ruth also visited the site of Ramboll’s Dubai Waste Management Centre (DWMC) Project, the world’s largest Energy-from-waste facility.

Adrian said: “We went with a clear message on embodied carbon, intending to increase the focus on the subject.  We are good at building zero-carbon assets, but we need to shift the dial to focus on the way we select the materials we use.

“The built environment sector was out in force with a determination to see action. I sensed a real change of gear. We know how to address the climate challenge, this COP was about how we turn that knowledge into action.

“The question now for our industry, and our government, is what levers we use to drive change. If [the] government wavers on its commitment to legislate for change, then it will be up to us to convince our clients of the need to do the right thing – and that is a much more difficult prospect.”

Picture: a photograph of Adrian Catchpole standing at a lectern. Image Credit: CIBSE

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 19 December 2023

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