The Write Way for a Low Carbon Commitment

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04 August 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970

An alliance of organisations representing the property and construction industry is calling on the sector to maintain its focus on decarbonisation, regardless of the outcomes of the EU exit negotiations. Eighteen organisations, led by the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) and including the British Property Federation (BPF), RICS, RIBA and CPA, have signed an open statement to the industry as they 'believe that the incentives remain strong for business to address climate change and other urgent sustainability challenges'.

The statement highlights the growth opportunities that the transition to low carbon presents saying: 'A low carbon built environment can be a catalyst for innovation, investment and job creation. It can drive productivity and economic growth and provide a platform for exporting British expertise, engineering and technology to a global market'.

The signatories have committed to working collaboratively to achieve this, across the industry and with Government.

The UK-GBC led the co-ordination of the statement. Julie Hirigoyen, CEO, commented: “Now more than ever we need to minimise future risk, reduce costs and generate new commercial opportunities. Low carbon buildings and infrastructure will deliver these outcomes. The businesses represented in our collective memberships span all aspects of the property and construction industry. It’s this unprecedented scale of collaboration that is required to achieve a low carbon sustainable built environment and take the message to Government that this is as good for UK Plc as it is for GDP."

BPF CEO Melanie Leech said: "Reducing energy consumption and increasing the energy efficiency of both the new and existing commercial building stock is a vital component not only of our contribution to international treaties but also to increasing the productivity in the economy and ensuring future energy security. The Government must take this into account in drafting its Industrial Strategy."

 

The letter has been published by the FT here and the full text is below

The UK has always been a global leader in tackling climate change, both unilaterally and within the EU. Irrespective of the outcomes of exit negotiations over the next few years, it is vital that the UK retains its leadership position in driving the low carbon agenda.

As organisations representing the construction and property sector, we believe that the incentives remain strong for business to address climate change and other urgent sustainability challenges. The Paris Agreement has created a new global imperative for action and UK businesses can help to lead the world to achieve it. We welcome the confirmation of an ambitious fifth carbon budget which sends a strong signal about the positive direction of UK climate change policy.

The initial impacts of the EU referendum result have already been felt by the construction and property sector, so now more than ever we need to minimise future risk, reduce costs, add value for clients, generate new commercial opportunities and ensure we have the best people working as productively as possible. A sustainable built environment is fundamental to these objectives, and we are committed to collaborating across the industry and with the Government to achieve this.

A low carbon built environment can be a catalyst for innovation, investment and job creation. It can drive productivity and economic growth, and provide a platform for exporting British expertise, engineering and technology to a global market.

 

Your sincerely

William McKee, Chief Executive, Accessible Retail

Dr Joanne Wade, CEO, Association for the Conservation of Energy

Andrew Simmonds, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Environmentally Conscious Builders

Sarah Ratcliffe, Programme Director, Better Buildings Partnership

Edward Cooke, Acting Chief Executive, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, British Council for Shopping Centres

Melanie Leech, Chief Executive, British Property Federation

Gary Mees, President, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists

John Field, President, Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers

Graham Watts, Chief Executive, Construction Industry Council

Dr Diana Montgomerym Chief Executive, Construction Products Association

Lynne Sullivan OBE, Chair, Good Homes Alliance

Miles Keeping, Chair of Investment Property Forum's Sustainability Interest Group

Paul Everall, Chief Executive and Company Secretary, Local Authority Building Control

Jon Bootland, Chief Executive, Passivhaus Trust

Alan Vallance, Interim Chief Executive, Royal Institute of British Architects

Matthew Howell, Managing Director, UK Markets, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Jon Lovell, Urban Land Institute UK Sustainability Council Chair

Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive, UK Green Building Council

Picture: For illustration purposes only - Eighteen property industry organisations have joined together to sign an open letter calling for low carbon leadership irrespective of the Brexit decision

 

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 04 August 2016

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