The sign-up process for the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment has been launched in the first week of the COP26.
The COP26 taking place from 1 – 12 November brings together representatives from around the world to address climate change and how to combat it.
The Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment, which forms as part of the CLC’s Co2nstruct Zero programme, was published by Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) in June this year to provide a mechanism that enables individual organisations to publicise their annual progress and share practices to assist their journeys to net zero emissions.
The Code is for clients, contractors, and supply chain members working in the built environment and enables wide participation for organisations which may want to join at a global, national or regional level as well as at a major project level.
It is designed to work alongside several existing initiatives including the ICE Carbon Project, Construction Innovation Hub Procuring for Value framework and toolkit, Infrastructure Carbon Review Seven Years On report, and RICS Building Carbon Database.
What do organisations need to do to comply with the Code?
The Code offers three levels of commitment:
- Core commitments for all organisations
- Core commitments for client organisations and further commitments to facilitate the transition to Net Zero
- Core commitments for supply chain organisations and further commitments to facilitate the transition to Net Zero.
The Code also organises all organisations into different statuses. They must be in accordance with the minimum entry level of compliance to attain Pledger status, which means they agree to the core commitments of setting out plans to meet net zero by 2045, including annual targets, and publishing these and the progress made against them every year.
Pledger levels also requires setting an interim target to reduce net direct and indirect carbon emissions for 2030, which aligns with or exceeds government strategy. Signatory level requires signing up to additional core commitments relevant to the organisation – be it client or supply chain, and Champion level sees commitments to more ambitious collaborative progress.
Dr Jennifer Schooling OBE, director of CSIC, said: “The Code recognises that we must start making meaningful change, and we have to start making it today. I urge you to visit the CSIC website to read the Code to understand what is required and sign-up. By working together towards a greater good, we all make progress.
“Collaboration and commitment will be key to success, and with alignment of ambition across all parties, we can progress towards net zero carbon at the pace required. The Code provides an encouraging, supportive and collaborative approach to reducing carbon. It is essential that our industry reduces carbon emissions and the more organisations that sign up to the Code, the more we will achieve.”
 Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment has been launched in the first week of the COP26.){kind=link}