Our journey to net zero could be thwarted by insurance barriers

By Paul Lowe 2021-02-08T08:32:00

Renewed scrutiny of fire and building safety regulations poses challenges for the adoption of sustainable construction materials such as timber, says Paul Lowe

The construction sector is notoriously, and regrettably, high-polluting. The Chartered Institute of Building estimates that the built environment is responsible for 30% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, with construction consuming 32% of the world’s natural resources. In the UK alone, the built environment generates 45% of the country’s 246 million tonnes of emissions every year.

There is therefore significant pressure for the industry to slash its carbon footprint – and a wide range of challenges to be overcome in order to play its role in the UK’s goal of achieving net zero carbon development by 2050.

One of the key mechanisms for achieving this is greater adoption of timber as a construction material.

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