Britain 2100: Energy Abundance, Equity, and the Path to Regeneration
By Alan Wing-King, CEO & Sustainability Consultant Founder | Engineering & Environmental Strategist | Advocate for Regenerative Futures As we stand on the cusp of one of the greatest transitions in human history, the UK’s journey toward a fully regenerative energy system offers both a compelling vision and a sobering challenge. The insights shared in […]
‘A reckless step’: Conservative party ditches net-zero by 2050 commitment
Conservatives’ Net-Zero Rollback Sends the Wrong Message The Conservative Party’s plan to abandon the 2050 net-zero commitment is a concerning step backward at a critical moment for sustainability. Environmental Gains Should Transcend Politics Convincing voters of specific ideologies is not my role, but environmentally friendly strategies appeared to gain bipartisan support recently. The climate crisis […]
Ambitious policies and practical solutions to cut emissions
Syntegra MD Alan King has welcomed a report outlining how ambitious new policies coupled with practical solutions can decarbonise the building sector and have a major impact on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.A combination of electric, efficient and flexible solutions can decarbonise buildings, improve standards of living, and reduce energy bills “if supported by ambitious policy”, […]
SBTi initiative to reach emissions targets
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has launched a new framework for financial firms and companies operating in the built environment to indicate ways to achieve emissions reductions targets. The SBTi has released its Buildings Sector Science-Based Target-Setting Criteria, a document which offers organisations a “whole building approach” to decarbonisation, covering issues including energy consumption and […]
Reconomy launches framework to speed up UK’s net-zero journey
Syntegra boss Alan King is backing the implementation of a new framework aimed at tackling climate change by restructuring the waste industry. Circular economy specialist Reconomy believes its 10-point regulatory framework will help drive the UK economy and help meet net-zero targets. Steve Reed, the new secretary of state at the Department for the Environment, Food […]
Property investors heed tenants’ demands for low carbon buildings
Property investors have been driven by tenants to increase their sustainability improvements by 20% in the past year, research has found. Both business and domestic tenants have been demanding lower-carbon buildings. Findings from new research from Handelsbanken, which surveyed 200 property investors across the country showed 92% of those polled said that multiple tenants have […]
Whole life carbon assessment – new global standard published
A new edition of the Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment (WLCA) standard has been launched. First published in 2017 for the UK’s built environment sector, this 2023 edition is a global version of the standard that provides a greater understanding of the carbon costs and benefits of design choices in construction and infrastructure […]
Concerns over Sunak’s weakened net zero approach
Concerns have been raised over the Prime Minister’s apparent weakening of Government commitment to net zero measures. Rishi Sunak has confirmed that his Government will weaken policy proposals relating to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, home heating and building energy efficiency, claiming it was unfair to impose significant extra cost burdens onto stretched household budgets. He […]
Measures to encourage heat pump installation
New Government proposals could make it easier and cheaper for households and businesses to install heat pumps. Proposed measures could lead to varying the levels of available grants, depending on the customer’s property type or existing fuel source. This would make heat pump installations more affordable for more households and small businesses, enabling them to […]
Net Zero: Biggest challenge ever
Net zero presents the “single biggest challenge that anyone working in the built environment has ever faced”, and pressure is increasing to achieve the aim, according to a report by the The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM). By 2030, emissions need to be reduced by 50%, and by 2050, net zero must be achieved, according to Government […]
Options available to reduce emissions but world failing to do enough – IPCC
The new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Synthesis Report states there are “multiple, feasible and effective options” to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, but that the world is currently not on track to achieve them. The IPCC’s report today reiterates that the world will fail to meet either of the Paris […]
Syntegra backs schoolgirl’s air pollution awareness raising efforts
Air pollution is not just something in the UK that concerns us here at Syntegra and we are delighted that young people are championing the cause both here and overseas. We were impressed that teenager Charlotte Green from St George’s School in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, brought to our attention the international petition to prevent drilling for […]
Heat pump installation kickstart
The UK Government has unveiled a £5m heat training grant aimed at supporting 10,000 low-carbon heating installers for the next two years. Heating engineers will be eligible for grants of up to £500 towards training costs, creating new green jobs, and helping to future-proof the heating industry, in a moved backed by the Heat Pump […]
SMEs see range of benefits as reasons to achieve net-zero
Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK are finding a variety of reasons beyond financial gains in their drive to reach net zero. The latest edition of Lloyds Bank’s Net Zero Monitor was published earlier this month having surveyed 1,074 financial decision makers in SMEs and revealed that 64% of their companies have […]
More businesses setting ambitious decarbonisation targets
Increasing numbers of businesses are setting ambitious decarbonisation targets in a bid to achieve net-zero by the middle of the century, according to a new study. According to Climate Action 100+, there has been a 17% year-on-year increase in the number of large businesses setting such targets. The report found a variety of methods used by […]
G20 nations failing to retrofit buildings to reach net-zero targets
G20 nations are failing to retrofit the built environment with energy and carbon saving measures at an appropriate pace to meet the Paris Agreement net zero targets. That is the key finding from the Global Retrofit Index which assesses the progress G20 countries are making to reduce emissions from existing buildings. With 80% of the […]
COP26 deal ‘overall positive’ – Syntegra
The Syntegra team has welcomed the new Glasgow Climate pact announced at the culmination of the recent UN COP26 summit an called on UK businesses to lead the way in reducing their carbon footprint by implementing sustainable solutions across the built environment. ‘The document signals further international commitment to tackle climate change which is overall […]
Businesses are ‘key lever’ to delivering Paris Agreement – COP26 team
Businesses have been urged to ‘turbocharge collaboration’ on climate issues ahead of this month’s COP26 summit. The UK COP26 Unit’s deputy director for engagement, Nick Baker, has called on businesses to step-up their own commitments and forge closer links to help keep a 1.5C target within reach. Baker’s team works alongside High-Level Champion Nigel Topping […]
Deadline for proof of carbon footprint reduction
A deadline is fast approaching for companies bidding for large Government contracts to prove how they are reducing their carbon footprint as part of the national drive towards Net Zero in 2050. From 30th September, contractors hoping to secure Government contracts worth more than £5million will have to provide a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) explaining […]
Call for new policies to tackle climate crisis
New policy measures are essential to tackle the climate crisis, scientists have warned ahead of this Autumn’s next round of talks, Cop26. With some changes to the environment now considered inevitable or irreversible, more should be done to tackle those issues still within human control, they said. The comprehensive assessment of climate science published last month, […]
Focus turns to embodied carbon emissions
The Syntegra team is committed to helping the construction industry fulfil its requirements of cutting emissions from embodied carbon – as well as operational carbon – in the drive towards net zero to tackle the climate crisis. Embodied carbon emissions have largely been overlooked historically but contribute around 11% of all global carbon emissions, according […]
Built environment accused of failing to account for projects’ lifecycle emissions
Less than 1% of global building projects currently calculate and report on lifecycle emissions, according to a new report which urges businesses in the built environment sector to measure the full extent of their carbon footprint in the bid to reach net-zero by 2050. A new report from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), supported […]
Government urged to prioritise public transport, walking and cycling to reduce emissions
More Government effort should be directed at encouraging the use of public transport, cycling and walking to reduce emissions rather than simply focusing on increased take-up of electric vehicles (EVs) to decarbonise transport, according to a new study. IPPR analysis of the Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon Budget advice suggests that efforts to decarbonise road transport through […]
G7 agree on ‘historic steps’ to make climate reporting mandatory
G7 countries have agreed to make climate reporting mandatory for corporate entities in line with the recommendations of the global Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). G7 finance ministers made the decision to make it mandatory for corporates to report climate impacts and investment decisions, and also agreed on new measures to strengthen central company […]
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