UKGBC responds to CCC Report to Parliament

UKGBC responds to the Climate Change Committee’s 2021 Report to Parliament

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has today responded to the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) 2021 Report to Parliament on progress in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change.

In response to the report, Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive at UKGBC said:

“Following just a week after its Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk, the CCC’s report adds to the growing evidence base that action to decarbonise the UK’s buildings, particularly our homes, and prepare them for climate change is simply not happening quickly enough.

“As the report highlights, progress in upgrading our new build standards and enforcing them properly has fallen behind. Likewise, the Government must seize the opportunity offered by the new Planning Bill to deliver development and infrastructure that is compliant with Net Zero and resilient to climate change.”

“The Committee is right to call for the recently proposed overheating standard for new builds to be expanded to cover refurbishments of existing buildings and conversions of non-domestic buildings to residential use. 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 already exist, and it is therefore imperative for the future of our buildings – and for the wellbeing of those who occupy them – that swift action is taken to encourage the uptake of adaptation measures for overheating.

“In order to successfully achieve our net zero target, it is clear that a national retrofit programme to deliver energy efficiency measures and prepare our homes for the impacts of climate change must be delivered in the next 10-15 years.”

Download the Climate Change Committee’s report here.

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