Finding ways to decarbonise the construction sector represents a huge challenge for policymakers and stakeholders.
Even as buildings become more energy-efficient to maintain and power, vast amounts of carbon are usually emitted during the manufacture of components and the construction of new buildings.
These emissions – known in the industry as ‘embodied carbon’ – occur before a building is even
The purchase of goods and services by public authorities spans industries and sectors across the UK, and a Government report this year concluded that public spending represented 52.5% of GDP in 2020/21[1]. Meanwhile, there is a drive not just by Government but by society at large, to take urgent action against climate change.
This article considers how public
Before we explore how we can assist our clients with legal obstacles and concerns, we want to go back to basics and look at the legal duty to achieve net zero placed upon the UK. Please see below some Questions and Answers about the Climate Change Act and the relevance of the Paris Agreement to the UK’s Net Zero goals.
Under the Habitats Regulations 2017, if a local planning authority is required to carry out a habitats “appropriate assessment” for a development, it can only grant planning permission for the development where there is no likelihood of a significant adverse effect on any European designated nature conservation site (unless certain circumstances apply). High levels of nitrates in various areas of
An example of Local authority green action is illustrated in this article. West of England Combined Authority (WECA) plan to replace their climate change plan with a more ambitious one, as they were not on track to meet their 2030 climate change goal of achieving net zero. Their projections will mean reducing CO2 emissions each year by 10%. They
In Contracts, the NEC has introduced the consultative form of its new “option X29” clause which aims to tackle misleading green claims made by suppliers (sometimes called “greenwashing”) and enable tangible net-zero requirements within contracts.
For more information see the NEC statement and our article on option X29.
