The Edge Biannual Report 2023

[edit] Biannual report 2023

The Edge is a multidisciplinary built and natural environment think tank and network with members drawn from across numerous different professions (and beyond). It held its first debate on June 18th 1996.

Its Biannual report 2023 covers the two year period July 2021 to July 2023, this article gives summary extracts from the report, the full report can be downloaded here, for further information about the edge visit https://edgedebate.com/

[edit] Highlights from the 2023 report

• Continuing normal cycle of public debates and policy-focused round tables.
• The running of a series of webinars and meetings to discuss policy with branches of Government including DLUHC, DBEIS, Defra and the CCC.
• The Edge continued in its role organising the conference sessions at the Futurebuild exhibition in March 2022 and 2023, featuring three days of essential discussion and presentations at each event.
• Continued work on the cross-industry Climate Action Plan, developed by the Edge for the Construction Industry Council and launched at COP26 in November 2021. the Edge now co- ordinates Workstream 10 on Competence, Ethics and Advocacy.
• An Edge/IStructE working group on low carbon concrete brought together experts from across the UK and beyond, resulted in a paper on the efficient use of GGBS.
• The Edge has responded to numerous consultations on subjects including planning, whole life carbon, net zero and climate education.
• The Edge published its Policy proposals for the built and natural environment in November 2022. See The Edge policy proposals for the built and natural environment 2022.
• The Edge’s planned programme of work on undergraduate- level built and natural environment education is now underway, starting with a Roundtable meeting held in July 2023.

[edit] Futurebuild 2022 and 2023 Debates

The Edge returned to the Excel Centre in March 2022 with a full conference programme under the heading of From Ambition to Zero – Net-zero pioneers and influential thought leaders take centre stage.

[edit] CIC Climate Action Plan

The Edge continues to support the CIC’s Climate Action Plan: Carbon Zero and is currently co-ordinating Workstream 10 of the Action Plan on Competence, Ethics and Advocacy. Under Workstream 10 the Edge is developing a proposed BSI Flex document for a Built Environment – Core criteria for sustainability in competence frameworks – Code of practice, working with the Department of Business and Trade as well as a wide range of representative bodies in the sector.

The Edge will continue to work with all parties to ensure that the built and natural design professions and organisations are prepared and better able to deliver net zero carbon solutions.

[edit] Policy Proposals for the Built and Natural Environment

In mid-2022 tapping into the extensive expertise of its members the Edge began to assemble a collection of policy ideas across different sectors of the UK economy all of which it believed were necessary if the country was going to meet the urgent climate and nature restoration objectives that have been set. The proposals were published in November 2022, a summary can be found at The Edge policy proposals for the built and natural environment 2022 or the original document can be downloaded from Policy Proposals for the Built and Natural Environment.

Following publication the Edge has been discussing and consulting widely on the proposals in meetings with politicians, advisers, civil servants, professional bodies, lobbying organisations and many others. They have been the subject of a session at Futurebuild (see above) as well as many individual presentations.

[edit] Consultations and responses

The Edge has responded to a number of consultations in 2021-23:

• to the Department for Education on: Sustainability and Climate Change Education - Strategy for education and children’s services systems
• to the National Infrastructure Commission: in response to the Second National Infrastructure Baseline Report
• to the House of Lords Inquiry into Land Use in England
• to the Independent Review of Net Zero, chaired by Chris Skidmore MP and
• commissioned by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on: the
• Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy
• to the RICS on: The Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment, RICS
• Professional Standard, 2nd Edition
• These responses are available at https://edgedebate.com/edge-responses

[edit] Future Activities

The Edge is currently working on the Conference programme for Futurebuild at the Excel Centre in March 2024 co ordinated by Edge member Sue James.

A series of Edge Debates and Round tables are planned for the Autumn and New Year including round tables on Planning for Net Zero with DLUHC (September) and the Costs of Infrastructure Delay for the NIC (November)

The Edge will continue to work with the CIC and the wide range of signatory bodies on the implementation of Carbon Zero: the professional institutions’ climate action plan.

This article is based on content from the "the Edge biannual report", dated August 26, 2023.

--The Edge

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