Embodied Carbon Summit Evidence Report

This new report summarises the findings and evidence shared by attendees of the embodied carbon summit 2025. It shows that the UK construction industry knows how to cut embodied carbon, and calls for coordinated action.
Technical Report
Embodied Carbon database workshop

“UKGBC and members, alongside the wider sector, have been working to rebuild the technical foundations for tackling embodied carbon. This summit reinforced that reducing embodied carbon is achievable, and industry is ready to deliver. We now need clear government direction to turn this readiness into real-world impact and reduce whole-life carbon across our sector.”

– Philippa Birch-Wood, Head of Climate Action at the UK Green Building Council

The Embodied Carbon Summit Evidence Report summarises findings and evidence shared by developers, engineers, architects, local authorities, insurers and academics during the Embodied Carbon Summit, that was held on 5 November 2025. The summit was a cross-industry event convened in response to AECOM’s study, The practical, technical and economic impacts of measuring and reducing embodied carbon in new buildings, which was written for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government earlier in the year.

Key Findings

1

The report finds that summit participants broadly agreed that embodied carbon reduction is achievable using existing tools and standards in the UK, but requires systemic changes in order to scale.

2

Initiatives such as the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, Part Z, the updated RICS Professional Standard on Whole Life Carbon Assessment (2nd edition) and benchmarking work by the Future Homes Hub were highlighted as helping gain recent traction. However, summit participants warned that voluntary action alone will not deliver change at the speed needed.

3

Participants called for near-term government signals, including national consistency in whole-life carbon methodologies, investment in shared data infrastructure, and a phased approach to regulation that pushes industry forwards while allowing it to adapt.  Several concerns were also raised that the consequences from a lack of regulation providing a consistency of approach are rarely discussed and researched – such as the observed impact of different Local Authorities introducing different requirements on embodied carbon.

The Embodied Carbon Summit Evidence Report summarises the discussions that happened during the event, and groups practical, technical, and economic considerations to mirror AECOM’s research.

While today’s report avoids making any specific policy recommendations,  it’s clear that industry capability has advanced significantly in recent years, and the sector is now ready for national policy to accelerate further change. 

Download the Report here

Embodied Carbon Summit Evidence Report 2025

Download5.32 Mb

Policy & Advocacy

Since 2007, we have been bringing together some of the most influential leaders in politics, business, local authorities, civil service and NGOs to accelerate action for a green built environment.
Learn more

Related

Fast, Pre-Verified Environmental Product Data

A pre-verified platform enabling construction material manufacturers to create, manage and verify environmental data, such as LCAs, EPDs and DPPs, and turn them into business value. The platform gives LCA managers control over environmental product data, provides leadership with transparency for decision-making, enables product and procurement teams to improve materials and sourcing, and helps sales teams respond faster to customer expectations with verified information.
Solutions