Introducing...

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the world is currently facing, and it is already starting to have a noticeable impact on our lives. But, if we work together, we can help keep global temperature rises under control and protect our planet for generations to come.

To do this, we have to start taking a serious look at our carbon emissions. The UK has pledged to become net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which is not very far away. This means we all must look closely at everything we do and think about how we can do it in a way which has less of a negative impact. 

Here in construction, we have a bigger role to play than most. The energy used to build, power and operate our built environment makes up about 42% of the country’s total carbon footprint, and around 39% worldwide.

1. Manufactured materials
12% of the total greenhouse gases emitted during production here in the UK come from building products.

2. Impact of construction
The construction industry is the biggest user of natural resources in the country, using 400 million tonnes of material each year and work across construction sites of all sizes produces almost 50 million tonnes of CO2e.

3. Buildings in use
The energy used to heat our homes, businesses and industry creates around a third of total UK emissions. To hit our target of net-zero carbon by 2050, we will need to reduce building greenhouse gas emissions by over 95%. This is not just about making sure new buildings are as energy efficient as possible, but also boosting the performance of the millions of buildings already standing.

4. End of life
The construction industry produces around 100 million tonnes of waste each year – more than a third of the total for the whole country.