The
leading trade body representing builders has called on the construction sector
and any future Government, to act now if they are to meet the 2050 zero carbon
target.
With
construction directly influencing 47% of UK carbon emissions and 61% of UK
waste1, the sector is a critical part
of the radical change needed.
The
National Federation of Builders’ (NFB) Major Contractors Group (MCG) launches
its ‘Transforming Construction for a Low Carbon Future’ report warning that the
construction industry must be transformed within a generation, otherwise it
will have failed the country and the Government will fail in its zero carbon
ambitions.
Speaking
at the launch, NFB’s Chairman, Nick Sangwin, said, “This Report is not a
document to sit on shelves gathering dust, it is designed to galvanise the
sector into action, to see the opportunities and to lead the way towards zero
carbon by 2050. It is critical that those within the construction sector are
stepping forward and implementing a real step-change in the way they do
business.”
Mark
Wakeford, Chair of the NFB’s Major Contractors Group, commented: “The year 2050
might seem a long time away but it’s really not much time to radically change
our industry. We must start now and the Government, in whatever guise they
return, must lead the way and make this a firm priority post election. Anyone
still operating the same way as they are today in 20 years’ time will be lucky
to still be in business. There are no excuses: Government, contractors, the
supply chain, manufacturers, designers and the trades must all embrace the
challenge now, as highlighted in our recommendations.
“To
make this happen, domestic housing requires a Government spend of £15 billion a
year, industrial and commercial property and infrastructure requires up to £10
billion a year, flood defences £1 billion a year, and the power sector £20
billion a year. But it’s about more than just money: the transformation
required in the construction industry is multi-faceted and it is critical that
Industry and Government take a joined-up approach to bring together
developments in skills, procurement, design, products and materials, transport
and more.
“The
report we are launching today is a call-to-arms, we’re telling the Government
and the industry alike to wake up to the reality of zero carbon and act now.”
While
the Report warns against the risks of not acting now, it also spells out the
huge opportunities that exist across the sector, including domestic,
industrial, flood defence, the power sector and transport. It looks at funding
streams, the transformation of skills, procurement and design, and innovative
approaches to reducing carbon emissions and waste.
The
report has contributions from a wide range of organisations with an interest in
the sector, including: the CBI, the CITB, Constructing Excellence, the
Institution of Civil Engineers, Laing O’Rourke and Nottingham City Council.
Find
the interactive report at https://www.builders.org.uk/nfb-groups/nfb-major-contractors-group/mcg-carbon-report-november-2019/
