Soapbox: Accelerating a Better Built Environment

Bianca Wong

Global Head of Sustainability
Kingspan

Soapbox: Accelerating a Better Built Environment

Agar Grove Phase 1a, NW1 by Hawkins\Brown, winner of the New London Awards 2019 Sustainabililty Prize

We have reached a critical pinch point on climate change. While there has been greater awareness and momentum over the past number of years, it hasn’t resulted in increased action. The recent UN Emissions Gap Report 2019 highlights that the window of opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5°C is rapidly closing. Our actions in this decade will have profound implications on planetary and societal wellbeing. Collectively, through commitments, stronger policies and actions we must now deliver a 7.6% emissions reduction every year between 2020 and 2030. Addressing this mammoth challenge requires urgent transformational action across all sectors.

The construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, with the construction and operation of buildings together accounting for 36% of global energy use and 39% of energy-related CO₂ emissions. With global floor area expected to double by 2060 and energy use on the rise this trend is set to accelerate.

Clearly, there is huge untapped opportunity within the built environment to help tackle the climate crisis and time is of the essence.

To make meaningful strides towards a decarbonised circular built environment (and to ensure it doesn’t become an even larger contributor in the future) we must work collaboratively as an industry to replace the old linear approach to construction and to mainstream new low carbon circular approaches to the design, build and operation of buildings. As citizens and industry professionals, we all have a part to play to help turn the tide and realise a more sustainable future.

At Kingspan, we believe our most important contribution in supporting climate action will come from helping our customers to reduce the whole life carbon of their buildings. This commitment is underpinned in our new 10-year global Planet Passionate programme, our overarching goals are - to significantly reduce our environmental footprint as we continue to grow our global business, further enhance the environmental performance of our products and to make a meaningful contribution towards the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By taking these actions, we aim to play our part, to lead by example and to help enable lower whole life carbon buildings around the world.

The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down, exposing major weaknesses in our economy and inequalities in our society. As we look to respond and recover it’s imperative that we see climate action, social justice and economic recovery as one and the same. We must build back better for people and the planet. The journey won’t be easy, but we can, and must, make this happen.

To learn more, read about Kingspan commitment to Sustainability through our Planet Passionate programme at https://www.kingspan.com/gb/en-gb/news/kingspan-planet-passionate-2030

Bianca Wong

Global Head of Sustainability
Kingspan

Soapbox: Accelerating a Better Built Environment

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