2050 NET ZERO TARGETS
POSITIVE PROGRESS
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The phrase Net Zero and everything that surrounds it will continue to shape the way the built environment is designed and delivered over the next few decades. It will be a long haul but the signs are that the UK is serious about making it happen. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) reported in June on progress on the UK’s road to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 in its ‘Reducing UK Emissions Progress Report to Parliament’. It provides “important new advice to Government on framing a recovery from COVID-19 that both accelerates the transition to Net Zero and strengthens resilience to the impacts of climate change, whilst driving new economic activity.” It’s 12 months since Net Zero became law, requiring the UK to reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases to zero by 2050. The CCC progress report picks out wood as a key element in achieving the required reduction – not only in the wider use of timber in construction projects – but the increased planting of the most precious of raw materials: trees. Much of the discussions surrounds energy efficiency and the national plan for insulating the UK’s draughty homes. Incentives for homeowners to pursue energy efficiency are essential with housing one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, along with transport.
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The key driver underpinning everything Net Zero-related is the need to reduce the amounts of embodied carbon in our buildings and develop effective plans to ‘rapidly scale up the levels of wood used in construction and support the assessment and benchmarking of whole-life carbon in buildings.’ “Low carbon retrofits, buildings that are fit for the future, tree planting, and a movement towards a circular economy are all identified as key investment priorities for building a resilient recovery,” said TTF CEO, David Hopkins. “These principles are shared by the timber supply chain, with countless case studies which demonstrate the strength of wood – not only for delivering sustainable, innovative and beautiful buildings, but for carbon capture and storage.” The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) also urged the government to push forward its green ambitions by ‘pressing play’ on the publication of the new Building Regulations, more ambitious details of the Future Homes Standard and the Buildings and Heat Strategy.
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“We’re pleased to see that the CCC has again highlighted the key role of buildings in reaching our Net Zero target,” said Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive, UKGBC. “Coronavirus has transformed the context of our race to Net Zero and Government must now focus on directing economic stimulus spending towards areas that align with meeting our emissions target. The built environment is consistently cited as one of the key levers that can address all three priorities at once: jobs, climate and health. “We fully support the CCC’s calls for Government to integrate Net Zero into all policy making and ensure procurement strategies are consistent with the UK’s climate objectives. The report’s recommendations chime closely with UKGBC’s priorities for a green recovery. Making new buildings fit for the future, improving the energy efficiency of our existing buildings and integrating green infrastructure across the board are all essential to truly building back better.” The CCC has also picks out the huge importance of increasing the amount of UK woodland with tree planting, peatland restoration, wetlands and other natural carbon sinks seen as generating “shovel-ready” projects that create new jobs around the country – in rural areas, but also in cities where green space is shrinking. In 2018-19, Scotland accounted for 80% of new planting in the UK and rates of tree planting have varied significantly in England and across the devolved administrations. For the UK as a whole, rates of tree planting have consistently fallen below what is needed to achieve Net Zero by 2050 or start to boost the supply of homegrown timber into the construction supply chain. Plans to accelerate tree planting and improve the management of our existing trees and woodlands are underway. Defra have launched a consultation on a new England Tree
