Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, recognised the construction industry’s contribution to achieving net zero at the virtual Business 7 Summit (B7).
The B7 welcomes around 60 CEOs from leading UK and global companies across the G7 countries, and feeds into the G7 Summit programme.
When identifying how government and business can work together to address global challenges in climate, Kwarteng set out his priorities and views on business leadership, highlighting that over 58 UK construction businesses have already signed-up to Race to Zero.
He also highlighted the UK’s leading consultancy businesses working in the built environment, who are committed to offering ambitious design options and advice that are fully compatible with net zero outcomes to their clients. This means that the expert advice received by financiers, asset owners and operators will now be encouraging, and actively driving towards, ambitious net zero choices.
Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK’s construction and engineering industries are leading the world in the drive to cut emissions, and I am thrilled to see so many businesses from all over the globe share this ambition.
“As we build back better, the commitments made at this summit will support the construction industry to make this essential low carbon transition and I look forward to working closely with the sector and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) on this journey.”
Hannah Vickers, chief executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and CO2nstructZero lead at the CLC, said: “I’m delighted to see ACE members among those demonstrating the leadership required if our industry is to play its part in helping society to meet its ambitious net zero targets.
“The UK’s leading global consultancy businesses are well advanced in achieving net zero on their direct emissions. To deliver significant reductions to society’s carbon emissions, these firms are now also committing to proactively shaping their clients’ decisions and approach. This means that more projects will start out with net zero at their core, delivering a positive knock-on effect along the entire construction supply chain.”
