DOWNTOWN QUARTERLY
WORDS BY BEN VAAS COMMERCIAL LEAD, AYMING UK
The UK aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, yet, at the same time has pledged to build more houses and invest heavily in infrastructure projects across the UK. Achieving both will only be possible if the construction sector finds ways to reduce its carbon footprint, which cannot be achieved without devoting time and resources to innovation. There should be no illusions at the scale of the problem faced: building accounts for 40% of carbon emissions in the UK and 60% of all waste. According to the Committee on Climate Change,
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the industry has little more than 10 years to make all new buildings netzero to comply with climate targets. Part of this problem stems from the construction sector being slower to innovate compared to other industries. This has been caused, not by a lack of willingness, but a lack of funding, as construction companies generally make less profit, which means they have often cannot spare the cash to pump into innovation projects.
