Zero carbon task group

In November 2018, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) launched a new task group with the intention of removing confusion around zero carbon buildings. Bringing together more than 30 experts from across the building value chain, and supported by 12 industry bodies, they intend to build an industry consensus around, and produce a definition for, net zero carbon buildings.

The UKGBC point to renewed attention being drawn to achieving net zero emissions in the wake of the October 2018 IPCC special report. The World Green Building Council is leading a global campaign calling for all new buildings to be net zero carbon in operation by 2030, and for all existing buildings to achieve a zero carbon standard by 2050.

The task group is to examine net zero carbon standards in terms of what they will mean for new buildings and how they operate in-use.

UKGBC are facilitating the task group as part of its Advancing Net Zero programme, which is supported by Lead Partner the Redevco Foundation and Programme Partners BAM Construct UK, Berkeley Group, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland and Hoare Lea.

Richard Twinn, Senior Policy Advisor at UKGBC, who will be facilitating the task group said:

“The construction and property industry is ready to make its contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement and start delivering net zero carbon buildings. But there is still a lack of clarity about what a net zero carbon building means in practice.

“This initiative is aiming to move beyond discussions about specific tools and policies towards buildings that work as intended and achieve genuine net zero carbon. We are seeking to create an agreed industry-led definition for net zero carbon buildings in the UK, to ensure we are all working towards the same outcomes.”

An industry consultation on the task group proposals will be opened in February 2019, with the final output published in the spring.

For more information, see: https://www.ukgbc.org/news/ukgbc-launches-major-industry-task-group-on-net-zero-carbon-buildings/

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