Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 31
31
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 167
In our view, the most effective way overall to encourage resource efficiency and the development...
Conclusion
In our view, the most effective way overall to encourage resource efficiency and the development and use of low-carbon materials, whether low-carbon concrete, steel, timber, or any other material, is to establish a mandatory requirement to measure whole-life carbon and introduce progressively more stringent carbon targets on buildings.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the important role that measuring whole-life carbon can play. They state that they will consult on their approach and proposals to mainstream the measurement and management of embodied carbon in 2023.
Paragraph Reference:
167
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
There is already work underway that will reduce embodied carbon emissions. The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy and the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, for example, have set out how large sectors of the economy, including construction, will decarbonise, and the England Trees Action Plan looks to increase production of timber, which can be used to replace higher carbon materials in construction when safe to do so. As these policies take effect and industries that supply construction decarbonise, the embodied carbon emissions of buildings will fall in turn. This, though, does not mean that further interventions are not needed, and we acknowledge the important role that measuring whole-life carbon can play. This is why the Net Zero Strategy sets out Government’s ambitions to help the construction sector improve their reporting on embodied carbon in buildings. The Net Zero Strategy also confirms we are exploring the potential of a maximum embodied carbon level for new buildings in the future. As set out above, we will consult on our approach and proposals to mainstream the measurement and management of embodied carbon in 2023. The Government is supporting inter-disciplinary approaches and strengthening the evidence base on resource efficiency initiatives by collaborating with the UKRI funded National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) programme, specifically Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-based Construction Materials (ICEC-MCM), which focuses on improving the way we use materials such as aggregate, cement, brick, plasterboard, stone and glass, particularly in infrastructure.