UKGBC responds to the launch of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard 

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has today responded to the launch of the largest and most ambitious cross-industry initiative in the UK.

Smith Mordak, Chief Executive of UK Green Building Council and UKNZCBS Governance Board member said:

The launch of the Standard marks a pivotal moment in our journey towards the UK’s net zero goals. Borne out of radical cross-industry collaboration, the Standard is the UK’s first Net Zero standard for the built environment that brings together national carbon budgets and project-scale targets and limits to create a robust definition of a building that responds to a science-led trajectory to net-zero.

I am proud of the role the UKGBC played in convening the industry and helping to initiate the development of the Standard. It builds on the collective efforts from across the industry, including our 2019 Framework Definition for Net Zero Carbon Buildings.

I invite built environment practitioners from across the industry to implement the Standard on any buildings being designed, constructed, or operated, to ensure that the UK’s building stock decarbonises rapidly enough for the UK to stand a chance of keeping temperature rise to within the critical 1.5°C threshold.” 

Tom Wigg, Senior Advisor at the UK Green Building Council and UKNZCBS Technical Steering Group member said:

Three years ago, a process of market analysis coordinated by UKGBC showed a clear industry demand for a more robust way of verifying whether a building is net zero carbon. 

Developed in response, the Standard is the culmination of the concerted efforts of hundreds of dedicated stakeholders across the sector and represents a critical step in reducing ambiguity in what it means to deliver a net zero carbon building in the UK. 

With the built environment responsible for 25% of the UK’s emissions, urgently decarbonising our building stock must become a national priority. We need to work together and act fast, and UKGBC is committed to making that possible. Alongside driving uptake of the Standard, we are currently working to update our Framework Definition to ensure it continues to help the industry realise net zero on their building projects.” 

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