The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has revealed the highly anticipated second edition of its Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment (WLCA) standard
Originally introduced in 2017 to address carbon concerns in the UK’s built environment sector, the 2023 edition of WLCA now extends its reach worldwide, offering an advanced framework to comprehend the carbon implications of design choices in construction, infrastructure projects, and assets.
This updated Whole Life Carbon Assessment standard follows an extensive public consultation in March 2023, which received an overwhelming response of over 1,300 contributions.
With the feedback from this consultation, RICS has expanded the standard’s applicability to encompass all built assets and infrastructure projects across the entire built environment lifecycle.
This milestone publication results from a collaborative effort between RICS, the UK’s Department for Transport, and Net Zero Waste Scotland and will set a global benchmark for sustainable construction and infrastructure practices.
The built environment industry generates 40% of global emissions
The United Nations has reported that the built environment sector accounts for approximately 40% of the world’s total carbon emissions and consumes 50% of extracted materials.
Given these staggering statistics, the release of the second edition of WLCA assumes paramount importance in the context of global climate action and the pursuit of net-zero emissions.
Notably, the new standard is not limited to carbon assessors alone; it also holds significance for clients, investors, and property managers.
Stephen Boyle, built environment manager at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “This landmark publication will be a key driver for circularity as it provides a vital standard for assessing carbon over the whole life of a building.
“This whole life consideration prompts built environment professionals to confront the carbon impacts a building has before, during, and after its use.
“Circular economy principles can provide a solution to this problem by encouraging the use of secondary materials to displace virgin ones, to use renewable low-carbon materials and to use digital tools, such as materials passports to create end-of-life value.”
How will the WLCA standard be utilised?
In the UK, the WLCA standard will be integrated into developing the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard, incorporating methodologies from the RICS Professional Standard.
The global reach of this new edition is anticipated to encourage other nations to adopt its methodologies within their regulatory frameworks.
To promote the global adoption of this standard, RICS will showcase it at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, where the organisation is an accredited partner.
Speaking on this milestone, RICS chief executive Justin Young stated: ” The second edition of Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment encapsulates RICS’s role as a global leader in the built environment and its duty to steer the industry towards decarbonisation.
“This second edition is a truly global standard for a global problem. I want to thank our members from every world region, our staff, partner specialists, and the Department for Transport and Net Zero Waste Scotland for their hard work and crucial support, which made this a reality.
“At this year’s COP28, where RICS is a UN-accredited observer organisation, we will promote this standard and ensure it is at the heart of the built environment’s crucial response to climate change.”
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