Trial / Demo
A clear majority (59.5%) of surveyed built environment professionals have identified collaboration across public and private sectors as critical in effectively addressing the complex challenges of reducing emissions in buildings and infrastructure.
The results also found that nearly half (46.2%) of respondents believe legislation will be the most significant driver of decarbonisation efforts. This is pertinent considering the government has recently conducted a consultation on Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings Regime, emphasising the urgency to strengthen measures guiding energy-efficient design and retrofitting.
The survey - conducted as part of our 30 years of Climate Hurt report – has revealed a strong consensus around those two critical factors needed to achieve net zero in the sector: robust public-private partnerships and clear government policy.
These insights come as the UK government has set ambitious targets to decarbonise the energy sector by 2035 (subject to security of supply) but has failed to legislate meaningful policy specifically for the built environment.
This inaction comes despite the findings of the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) 2024 assessment of the government’s progress in reducing carbon emissions, which identified the critical need to reduce emissions from buildings in the next three carbon budgets if it is to achieve the 2050 net zero target.
However, more encouragingly, industry bodies are stepping up to the challenge with the creation of the newly introduced Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. As the UK's first cross-industry Standard that brings together Net-Zero Carbon requirements for all major building types, it provides a clear, unified framework for verifying the carbon performance of new and existing assets, giving developers and property owners a tangible pathway towards decarbonisation.
According to our survey, achieving a decarbonised built environment will require strong leadership from the government, clear regulatory frameworks, and active cooperation by the public and private sectors.
Don Mclean, CEO at IES, commented: “These findings send a clear message - if we’re serious about decarbonising the built environment, we need more than just ambitious targets.
“Strong leadership from policymakers and real collaboration between public and private sectors are the twin engines that will drive meaningful change.
“But that collaboration must also embrace a whole life performance modelling approach, spanning policy and investment right through to development and operation.
“It’s about turning bold promises into tangible actions - by making buildings smarter, cleaner, and more energy-efficient, we can pave the way for a net zero future.”
In the context of net zero targets, the survey underscores the critical role of government intervention in catalysing energy-efficient building designs, low-carbon retrofits, and the adoption of smart technologies. There is a growing urgency for industry stakeholders to collaborate, share expertise, and invest in new innovations.
Read the full 30 Years of Climate Hurt report
