By Natalie Daniels, Sustainability Director at Building Relations PR

Climate change is not a new challenge. For decades, the environment and biodiversity have been in rapid decline. Despite the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aimed to unite nations in a global effort to combat climate change, the situation has continued to deteriorate. In fact, recent years have seen the outlook grow increasingly dire, underscoring the urgent need for more decisive action.

Today, across the housebuilding industry, we are seeing growing pressure to adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in response to the rapidly intensifying impacts of climate change on our people and planet. The urgency of the situation is clear.  In particular, the housebuilding and construction industry is under increasing pressure due to regulatory requirements and policies, stakeholder expectations and risk management.

What’s changed in 10 years?

Globally, the built environment is responsible for almost 40% of total direct and indirect CO2 emissions and, in the UK, evidence shows that embodied carbon can account for up to 70% of a building’s total carbon emissions over its lifetime. This is why holistic, sustainable design practices are needed more than ever to reduce this impact. These include low carbon building materials, reusing as much as possible, and implementing new energy efficiency solutions.

Over the last decade, more research programmes and solutions have been implemented to monitor embodied carbon. The carbon emissions associated with the materials and construction processes of buildings have become a key focus. 

This is alongside operational carbon – a term which refers to emissions from a building’s energy use during its lifetime. Recently, we have seen a greater focus on the operational performance of buildings and the carbon emitted by heat, lighting and water, and ways that new technologies can monitor and reduce this.

Of course, while developers have a vital role in reducing emissions, we all have our part to play. 

Over the last ten years, residents and commercial occupiers have also become increasingly interested in the sustainability credentials of buildings, seeking more comfortable and sustainable spaces to live and work. This includes aspects such as interior design, energy-efficient appliances, natural lighting, and the use of reusable materials – all of which have become more common in modern space designs.

And we, as communication professionals, also need to stand up and be counted.

While awareness that the built environment is responsible for contributing to climate change has certainly grown over recent years, it is clear that so much more needs to be done to drive this vital message home. 

We need to constantly review our approach to educate and empower everyone to take responsibility for this looming crisis – rather than sleepwalking into it. 

People and planet

Although the ‘S’ in ESG is coined as ‘social value,’ the principle is all about the positive impact an organisation has on society. Today, it really feels as though social value is getting the attention it deserves. 

Housebuilders and the construction industry more generally, understand that designing spaces that will benefit both communities and nature in the long term is critical to ensuring future communities are both healthy and sustainable.

The next 10 years… 

In the absence of an accurate crystal ball, it’s hard to say for sure what the next decade will bring – especially with so many momentous global events happening right now.

To date, the catastrophic Los Angeles fires have claimed the lives of scores of people and left thousands homeless, while official figures from The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record.

This is not a one-off phenomenon.

Average global temperatures are rising by 0.07°C each year – bringing severe and ever-changing weather patterns, rising sea levels, and declining agriculture and biodiversity. 

We have seen UK policy flip-flopping in recent years, and urgent action, led by the Government, is needed.

However, I remain hopeful. Just look at how much progress we’ve made in the past decade alone. The renewed focus on sustainability, alongside government initiatives like the UK Labour Party’s commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower, signals that we are on the right path.

In the next 10 years, if we continue to push forward with the adoption of clean technologies, sustainable practices, and strong ESG frameworks, the housebuilding and construction industry can leave behind long-lasting sustainable developments in its legacy. 

But now is the time to act. The challenges we face may be daunting, but by coming together – whether through adopting innovative construction methods, implementing energy-efficient low carbon solutions, or integrating social impact, we can shape a future that is much more sustainable. 

The next decade could be a turning point for the planet, and it’s up to us to make it count.

As PR experts, the industry must continue to push for more collaboration and change, not just for today, but for the generations to come. Only then can we make our planet a place that thrives.