The Royal Academy of Engineering National Energy Policy Centre recently published a detailed report outlining how the construction industry can become net-zero carbon.

This is a complex, but essential, task. The built environment currently accounts for around 40% of our carbon emissions.

We certainly can’t become a net zero economy without net zero construction. It’s also clear that urgent carbon reduction action is needed to help prevent catastrophic global temperature rises. The report maps critical actions in four areas: product outcomes, design and specification, construction and reuse, and changes to procurement. It also helpfully breaks actions down into short, medium and long-term priorities.