Contractors discuss carbon emissions at COP26

UK contractors and consultants will take part in a free, live streamed debate on carbon reduction strategies during the COP26 climate summit on Thursday 11 November.

Taking part will be representatives from Keltbray, Costain, Atkins and Travis Perkins and it will be chaired by Sarah Linnell, sustainability engineer at consultant Cundell.

The discussion is part of the ’Built Environment Day’ at the Summit and has been organised by the UK’s Construction Leadership Council (CLC).

Day 6 of the COP26 meeting in Glasgow. (Photo: Dominika Zarzycka & Reuters)

The Construction: The Built Environment session, starts at 9.30am and can be viewed at COP26’s YouTube channel. 

CLC was created to provide leadership in the UK construction sector on costs, productivity, carbon reduction and trade. Among its goals is a 50% reduction in emissions by 2025 through its CO2nstructZero initiative.

Hannah Vickers, the Chief of Staff at Mace, who is helping lead the CO2nstructZero project, said COP26 could be a landmark moment for the planet and have a great impact on construction; “The Construction Leadership Council has a huge role to play as our sector transforms itself over the coming years…

“I would encourage everyone in the industry to get involved in any way you can – our industry is changing quickly, and we must work together current and future leaders to ensure success”.

Early in October Vickers said CLC had identified nine priorities on climate change, with the first being to accelerate the shift in construction to zero emission vehicles and onsite plant.

Andy Mitchell, co-chair of CLC and CEO of Tideway – the company building a £4 billion wastewater tunnel in London - said: “The world will be watching as the Construction Leadership Council takes the stage as part of events at COP26.

“I am delighted with our line-up of industry experts who can speak about the role that construction can play in delivering net zero carbon. We hope that they can lead change not just in the UK but promote better outcomes for construction worldwide”.