The proposed joint strategy, launched today for consultation, aims to help the industry deliver more sustainable construction methods and products.
The draft strategy’s key areas include:
- Reducing the carbon footprint of activities within the construction sector
- Production of zero net waste at construction site level
- Developing voluntary agreements and initiatives between the construction industry and its clients with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint and use of resources within the built environment
- Creating a safer industry by improving skills, boosting the numbers of workers taking part in training programmes, and retaining more skilled workers.
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“Currently the built environment accounts for around 47% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK(Construction counts for 1.5%). Not only must the construction industry rise to the challenge of reducing those emissions, it must also consider how it will adapt its products to deal with the impacts of unavoidable climate change.”
Mike Davies, Chairman of the Strategic Forum for Construction, said: “It is important for the industry to demonstrate its commitment, and developing a strategy jointly with Government is a key component of this. The strategy proposes some challenging targets. There are some quick wins and some where longer term measures need to be in place.
“Most importantly, the strategy requires all parts of the industry and our stakeholders to work together. To develop a sustainable future we must combine the processes for improving the built environment with the policies to increase competitiveness, and this will be the key to the success of this strategy.”
(JM/SP)
