Carbon emissions from the construction of public buildings and infrastructure usually sit outside the scope of local authorities’ carbon reduction plans, yet often represent more than half of a council’s total emissions.
The Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment provides a practical way for local authorities to examine and test their carbon reduction ambitions and make a public commitment to reaching net zero by 2045.
The code is hosted by the University of Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction, and forms part of the UK Construction Leadership Council’s CO2nstructZero initiative.
The National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF) is a voluntary membership body of local government officers, working with industry, academia and central government, to drive improvements in quality, efficiency, and sustainability. It is focused on the benefits to the health and wellbeing of our local communities through reducing pollution, the effects of climate change, and by increasing biodiversity.
Recognising that local authorities need a means to report the carbon activities of their contractors, NACF regional members, including Constructing West Midlands (owned by Birmingham City, Solihull and Sandwell Councils), worked with Cambridge to develop the code.
The Southern Construction Framework (owned by Hampshire and Devon County Councils) and national framework members SCAPE and SCAPE Scotland (owned by six councils in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire and Gateshead) have signed up to the code – and continue to lead the work of the group through the development of a baseline carbon reduction tool.
Signing up to the code demonstrates a clear commitment that requires real data, annual reporting, and quantifiable improvements. Through their ongoing support, NACF members have already encouraged supply chain contractor partners Morgan Sindall, Galliford Try, Kier, Willmott Dixon, McLaughlin & Harvey, Interclass and Mace to sign up.
We have seen real interest in the code from local authorities attending the recent Midlands Net Zero Hub’s annual conference, and look forward to seeing further commitments made by other LGA members soon.
- For more information please visit smartinfrastructure.eng.cam.ac.uk/carbon-reduction-code or contact us at [email protected]