Digital series on the role of construction in tackling the biodiversity crisis

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) marked World Habitat Day 2024 with the launch of an innovative digital series titled The Nature of Building: Biodiversity & the Built Environment.

Created in collaboration with Content With Purpose (CWP), the series examines the complex connection between construction and nature and the urgent need for the industry to address the rapidly worsening biodiversity crisis.

It celebrates some of the positive work already underway within the construction industry and uses short films, interviews and case studies to explore themes such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), adaptive reuse, and embodied biodiversity impact.

It will also showcase sustainable approaches to material sourcing, new construction techniques, and the mitigation of environmental impacts to demonstrate how organisations can make a positive difference in ways which don’t add significant costs and delays to projects.

Amanda Williams, FIEMA CEnv, Head of Environmental Sustainability at CIOB, said: “It is vital that the construction industry adapts to reduce its impact on biodiversity and ultimately work towards nature positive outcomes. We know this will require innovation in a challenging context, but we can start by giving nature a seat at the table.

“We hope our series will highlight what biodiversity is, why it’s important, and how construction impacts on nature, as well as showing examples of best practice to demonstrate that we can meet society’s needs for new housing and infrastructure, without sacrificing the natural world.”

Findings from the State of Nature Report 2023 reveal nearly one in six species in the UK are at risk of extinction. Globally, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), around 1 million species globally are currently threatened with extinction due to human activities.

The series will feature insights from key figures, including:

• Amanda Williams, FIEMA CEnv, Head of Environmental Sustainability, CIOB
• Martin Baxter, FIEMA, CEnv, Deputy CEO, IEMA
• Sir John Armitt, CBE FREng FICE, Chair, National Infrastructure Commission
• Marco Lambertini, Conservation Specialist
• Dr Stephanie Wray, Director, Nature Positive
• Anusha Shar, CEng FICE Hon Prof Hon DEng, President, Institution of Civil Engineers
• Nigel Silcock, Director of Exubia

Leading organisations such as Atkins Réalis, NatureSpace, Morgan Sindall Construction, Speedy Hire, CWSC, Birdlife International, Ibstock, Jewson, and Marsh Industries have all contributed to the CIOB series, displaying their commitment to integrating biodiversity considerations into construction projects.

Max Smith, Founder and Managing Director of Content With Purpose, said: “We are thrilled to partner with CIOB on this vital project. This series showcases the innovative approaches already making a difference. Our goal is to highlight these efforts and inspire the industry to adopt nature-first strategies, ensuring that development goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship.”

To explore The Nature of Building series and learn how the construction industry is addressing the biodiversity crisis, visit: thenatureofbuilding.ciob.org

“We hope our series will highlight what biodiversity is, why it’s important, and how construction impacts on nature, as well as showing examples of best practice to demonstrate that we can meet society’s needs for new housing and infrastructure, without sacrificing the natural world.”

Amanda Williams, Head of environmental sustainability, CIOB

This article appears on the CIOB news and blog site as "CIOB digital series highlights construction's role in tackling biodiversity crisis" dated 7 October, 2024, images also from https://thenatureofbuilding.ciob.org/.

--CIOB

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