Arup Advocates for Comprehensive Carbon Reporting in Construction

Consulting engineer Arup, in collaboration with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), has issued a call for standardised whole-life carbon (WLC) reporting in the construction industry. Highlighting the significant carbon footprint of buildings, which accounts for 37% of global emissions, Arup stresses that accurate measurement is essential for effective carbon reduction.

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1. Current Reporting Gaps: Less than 1% of building projects currently report their full carbon footprint.
2. Global Emissions: The built environment's carbon impact exceeds that of transportation, necessitating urgent action.
3. Standardisation Effort: Arup and WBCSD emphasise the need for consistent, global carbon data collection and sharing to meet the Paris Agreement targets.
4. Embodied Carbon Focus: A significant portion of a building’s carbon emissions come from the materials and construction processes, highlighting the importance of reducing embodied carbon.

Arup and WBCSD's initiative underscores the importance of comprehensive carbon accounting to drive meaningful reductions in the built environment. This approach aims to support the development of net-zero buildings and ensure the construction industry contributes effectively to global climate goals.