Sustainable Estates

Before we start to consider solutions, we need to ask some key questions - What is the climate crisis and why are carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases so important?

We can thrive on our planet because it has an atmosphere. The atmosphere ensures the temperature remains just right – not too hot, not too cold (the greenhouse effect). Greenhouse gas emissions are released into the atmosphere through a range of economic activities, mostly burning fossil fuels in transport, industry and buildings.

Concentrations of Greenhouse gases are growing, increasing the greenhouse effect. Without urgent action the temperatures will increase by between 4 and 6 degrees by the end of the century.

Human impacts include water shortages, flooding, droughts, increased poverty and ill health. This is the decade of action – where huge transformations need to take place before it's too late.

Since 1990 UK emissions have fallen by 40% despite the economy growing by 75%. If all countries took this approach, we could hold warming below 2°C. We are on a trajectory to be in line with warming at 3°C. Buildings and infrastructure account for around 36% of energy consumption and 38% of energy related carbon emissions. Emissions from buildings rise by an average of 1% each year, as a result the built environment is not in line to achieve decarbonisation by 2050. Newly constructed buildings are more energy efficient but 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built. Therefore, the major priority is decarbonising current stock.

We’re putting in place end to end solutions to support the public sector in assessing, adapting and preventing the impacts of climate change on the estate. Key focus areas include Environmental Consultancy, Buildings, Energy and Nature based solutions.

Click here for information on our Estates Sustainability Solutions framework.