Written evidence submitted to the Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into the Seventh Carbon Budget (SCB0005)

The construction sector accounts for approximately 38% of global carbon emissions which is a considerable impact on the UK climate and a main contributor to the changing climate. Whilst carbon is being emitted during construction phases, there is also embodied carbon within buildings and completed projects that last the lifecycle of the infrastructure. This impact is contributing significantly to climate change within the UK, not just affecting the construction sector, but other sectors such as railway infrastructure. Weather reporting by the Met Office shows an increase in temperatures year on year, bringing milder winters and hotter summers. This not only impacts on construction itself, but also on the workforce as they have to operate in hotter climates during summer. Ways to overcome the impact from the construction sector could be to incorporate the secondary Option X29 clause into future NEC construction contracts, use waste products formed into construction materials and zero carbon cement. By utilising waste products as construction material or recycling old construction materials as part of construction, this would have the potential to reduce carbon emissions and therefore lessen the impact of climate change from construction. Another solution could be to research into CO2 capture to convert to a liquid or solid fuel for powering industry or heating homes in future.

Citation

Dixey, C., Renukappa, S., Suresh, S. and Veenith, T. (2025) Written evidence submitted to the Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into the Seventh Carbon Budget (SCB0005). UK Parliament.

Type

Other

Language

en

Description

© 2025 UK Parliament. Written evidence submitted to the Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into The Seventh Carbon Budget (SCB0005). Available online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9361/the-seventh-carbon-budget/publications/

Series/Report no.

SCB0005

Collections

Faculty of Science and Engineering