Focus on buildings to treble emissions reductions

Emissions reductions in buildings need to treble by the end of the decade if the UK’s ambitions to achieve net zero are to be realised.

The Climate Change Committee has published a report assessing only a third of the emissions reductions required to achieve the UK’s 2030 target are currently covered by credible plans. 

But buildings have been mentioned as a priority focus to help hit targets.

The report does highlight the fact that emissions are now less than half the levels they were in 1990, generally down to the phase-out of coal and the roll out of more renewables.

But it also points out that to tackle climate change there now needs to be “ambitious action not just in the energy sector, but also across transport, buildings, industry and agriculture” because the plans put in place by the previous government “will not deliver enough action”.

Professor Piers Forster, interim chair of the committee, said: “The country’s 2030 emissions reduction target is at risk. The new government has an opportunity to course-correct, but it will need to be done as a matter of urgency to make up for lost time. They are off to a good start. Action needs to extend beyond electricity, with rapid progress needed on electric cars, heat pumps and tree planting.

“The transition to Net Zero can deliver investment, lower bills, and energy security. It will help the UK keep its place on the world stage. It is a way for this government to serve both the people of today and the people of tomorrow.”

The committee has written a priority list of 10 recommendations, which include plans “to make electricity cheaper, reverse recent policy rollbacks, and ramp up rates of tree planting and peatland restoration”.

Much of the low-carbon technology needed for the proposals is already available – but the report suggests that almost all the indicators for the scale-up and rollout of that technology are off-track, with rates needing to improve significantly.

The UK Green Building Council described the report as “timely” because “buildings are the second-highest emitting sector in the UK and yet there has been a lack of effective and consistent policy conducive to decarbonising at the scale and pace required”. 

It stated: “In the absence of government leadership, the industry has stepped up, including through collaborating to produce an industry-led Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. However, industry cannot do this alone, we also need greater ambition from the Government to drive action forward, as highlighted by the CCC.  

“The report shows we have successfully weaned ourselves off coal, and now the focus on oil and gas is bringing buildings to the forefront of discussion. The report confirms the next three carbon budgets will place greater emphasis on buildings, with emissions reductions in buildings needing to triple by 2030.”

Syntegra MD Alan King said: “It is right to highlight buildings as a focus for emissions reductions – both existing stock which can be retrofitted, often for minimal spend, and new developments which should have sustainability at the heart of their operations.

“There is a real opportunity ahead of us to make a huge difference at every stage of the building process and it is important for the Government to give a national steer, especially as it launched its major house building initiative as one of its first policies on taking office.

“Our team is highly qualified in conducting building reviews to check for sustainability issues and making recommendations to introduce immediate efficiencies.

“And we work closely with developers to advise on latest sustainability measures we think should drive improvements around emissions reductions.