New report shows good progress towards Net Zero targets for construction

Marking two years since its launch, the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) CO2nstruct Zero programme has published its 7th progress update to its Performance Framework.

The Framework was launched at COP26 in November 2021, as a single universal tool to collect data and report on how construction is tackling the carbon challenge.

The Performance Framework comprises 31 metrics across nine priority areas, each of which tells a story of how the sector is reducing its carbon emissions across construction activities; the resulting buildings and structures; and the transport of products and materials.

The 7th update shows continued progress across several areas, including:

• Electric Vehicles: Government is on target with their 300,000 Electric Vehicle charge points by its 2030 target, which will make it easier to run an Electric Vehicles.
• Zero Diesel: The CLC is making progress on implementing the actions of its industry roadmap with developers, infrastructure clients and house builders working together on a common approach to cutting diesel from work sites.

The report also highlights areas where further work is needed.

Firstly, the industry needs to pick up the pace in training heat pump installers, with the growth rate of those being trained having slowed over the last quarter. The adoption of heat pumps will play a vital role in enhancing the energy performance of new and existing buildings, a key aspect of the bigger drive to Net Zero.

Secondly, Government has a target for 70% of new vans to be electric by 2030-a target on the vehicle manufacturers. As of October, just 5.5% of vans sold were electric. We will be drawing on the knowledge and experience of our CO2nstruct Zero members to better understand the barriers to the construction sector adopting electric cars and vans, through our recently announced project on Electric Vehicles.

Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State for Industry and Economic Security and the Minister of State for the Investment Security Unit at the Cabinet Office said: “I welcome the latest CO2nstruct Zero report, which shows that while we’ve made great progress far, there’s still much more we can do. By working in partnership with our growing network of over 220 companies, we can continue to learn from each other and help the sector reach net zero.

“I’m also pleased to announce five new Business Champions to the CO2nstruct Zero Programme: FM Conway, Jewson, Encore Environment, Ecoclo Synergy UK and Danosa UK, and I look forward to working with them to support the construction sector.”

Matt Palmer, Construction Leadership Council Industry Sponsor for Biodiversity and Net Zero said: “The construction sector has the ambition, knowledge and potential to lead the drive to Net Zero, and today’s report highlights the positive progress we have made together over the past two years. However, there is still more work to be done, and it is vital that the construction industry works together to innovate and evolve, and take the steps needed to meet our Net Zero targets.”