To avoid the worst catastrophes of the climate crisis, globally we must halve carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. The built environment is directly responsible for 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions and therefore has a moral and legal responsibility to rapidly decarbonise. UKGBC’s Whole Life Carbon Roadmap (The Roadmap) was created by a range of industry voices in response to this context and sets out a clear trajectory for industry and government as we work towards a net zero future. 

Key Roadmap statistics

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The Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap

The Roadmap was launched at the beginning of a crucial decade for climate action, with the need for our industry to decarbonise clearer than ever. It provides a common vision for achieving net zero carbon in the construction, operation and demolition of buildings and infrastructure. Critically, the trajectory demonstrates to industry and government that there is a clear pathway to net zero by 2050 for the built environment, setting out step-by-step actions for different stakeholders. 

If embraced by these stakeholders, the pathway and action plans the Roadmap lays out have the potential to radically improve the future of our built environment; ensuring that our cities and communities are low carbon and sustainable for all. 

The creation of the Roadmap

Collaboration was key, with comprehensive stakeholder engagement at all stages of this project that represented a significant cross-selection of our industry. Overall, more than 100 organisations co-created this guidance, and even more contributed through industry consultation. Launched in 2021, it represents industry coming together to work towards the rapid decarbonisation of our sector. 

The Roadmap is split into 4 key outputs. The Pathway Report gives an overview of the project, key findings and the steps industry must take to achieve net zero by 2050. The Technical Report goes into more depth into the numbers behind the Roadmap and how our team arrived at the conclusions they did. The Stakeholder Action Plans give clear guidance for a range of built environment stakeholders as they work to meet these targets, and finally the Summary for Policy Makers recommends the key policies government should implement to enable industry to meet these targets. 

The Technical Report

The Technical Report provides detail on the project structure, the process for data collection, the key features of the calculation methodology and concludes with a description of the net zero scenario definition and results.

Summary for Policy-Makers

The Summary for Policy-Makers is aimed at central government, local authorities, and anyone interested in built environment policies. The Summary provides an overview of the relevant Roadmap findings and policy recommendations for central government to deliver a net zero built environment by 2050.

A Progress Report on the Roadmap

To coincide with Built Environment Day at COP28, and to mark two years since the launch of the Roadmap, UKGBC published an update on the built environment sector’s progress towards meeting our net zero trajectory. This is in the form of a “Progress Report”. This Progress Report reviews progress in the four years since the 2018 baseline of the Roadmap. It presents the operational carbon, embodied carbon, and F-gas emissions of the entire UK domestic, non-domestic, and infrastructure stock based on reported data, for comparison against the progress determined to be necessary by the original Roadmap. 

Overall, the Progress Report provides insight into progress (or lack thereof) on emissions reduction in the sector over the previous 4 years. The data and key findings are supplemented with narrative reflecting on the lack of supporting policy framework to deliver on the WLC Roadmap’s pathway to net zero. 

What’s next for the Roadmap?

At UKGBC, we believe in the power of collaboration and continuous improvement. Our Roadmap is not just a document; it is a living guide that will evolve as we engage with our members, policymakers, and the wider industry. Together, we will ensure that the insights gained from this journey are not only understood but also put into action. Through workshops, tailored guidance, and knowledge sharing, we are supporting a movement towards a sustainable future. 

For the built environment, the Roadmap represents our shared vision for a decarbonized sector. We invite industry leaders and policymakers to embrace this guidance for informed decision-making and strategic direction. At UKGBC, we are committed to aligning our carbon reduction initiatives with the aspirations outlined in the Roadmap. By building a strong foundation of knowledge and guidance, we are paving the way for a net zero built environment. 

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Want to learn more about the Roadmap or get involved?

Get in touch with our Advancing Net Zero team who can answer your questions and let you know how you can get involved moving forward.

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