The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) and nine member organisations have backed a joint industry and Government initiative which aims to cut 24 million tonnes of carbon emissions from UK infrastructure projects by 2050.

The Infrastructure Carbon Review – which has been developed by the Infrastructure Working Group of the Green Construction Board as a sister document to the Infrastructure Cost Review - sets out a series of actions which could save the industry £1.5 billion a year by 2050. The review was launched yesterday by Commercial Secretary to the Treasury Lord Deighton and Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon.


UK-GBC members Arup, Atkins, Bam Nuttall, Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Heathrow, Laing O’Rourke, Mott Macdonald and Skanska all endorsed the initiative and will work with Government to implement, monitor and review progress against a set of pledged commitments. The Green Construction Board will host an event in early 2014 where industry will update Government on progress against these targets.

Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK-GBC, said: "The Olympics clearly demonstrated that the UK is a world leader in the delivery of major infrastructure projects, and many more of these, such as Crossrail, are set to follow.

"But the emphasis is on how we develop these projects in a way that is both environmentally and economically sustainable. Through this review, industry will provide leadership on the business case for low carbon infrastructure, showing how cutting costs and carbon actually go hand in hand to create a more efficient and competitive industry."

(CD/MH)