In 2024, the world faced a relentless series of climate shocks that underscore the need for urgent action.
The warmest year on record, 2024 saw global average temperatures break the 1.5C threshold. Extreme heat triggered wildfires, droughts and devastating floods on every continent. Retreating glaciers threaten the food and water supply of two billion people around the world, and at home the UK endured one of the wettest winters on record resulting in a projected 8% decline in the nation’s food self-sufficiency. These events are stark reminders of the urgent need for action. And yet, despite the overwhelming evidence, the past year has been marked by a growing scepticism around the net zero agenda.
The reality is that UK has made great progress. As reported in the Seventh Carbon Budget Report from the Climate Change Committee, emissions in the UK in 2023 were around half the levels they were in 1990 and the pace of emissions reduction has more than doubled since the introduction of carbon budgets in 2008. By the middle of this five-year 2025-2030 carbon budget, emissions in the UK will be a quarter of the level they are today, and 87% lower than levels in 1990.
Having made so much sustained progress, it’s more important than ever that we continue to lead by example - demonstrating that sustainable practices don’t just benefit the planet, they also add value, drive efficiency, foster creativity, and open new avenues for growth for our business.
Given that around 70% of the whole life carbon of a project is during design and construction we are increasingly driving down emissions through innovative design and materials selection, not to mention more customers considering retrofitting rather than new build as a key tenet of their decarbonisation strategies. Embodied impacts will only continue to grow in significance as we see the changes to the energy pricing mechanism coupled with grid decarbonisation as part of the Government’s Clean Energy Mission which will achieve at least 95% of low carbon generation by 2030.
We know from experience that true sustainability requires collaboration. We work closely with our supply chain and industry bodies like the Supply Chain Sustainability School which has just celebrated its twelfth birthday, to share knowledge and increase skills. This approach means we already have nearly three-quarters of our key suppliers monitoring and recording their emissions. More broadly we are piloting the UKGBC’s new Net Zero Carbon Building Standard, and we are at the heart of industry-wide groups shaping regulations from the Government’s emerging Circular Economy Strategy, and the 2025 Industrial Strategy, to nature-related financial disclosures.
And just as the way we build matters, so is our approach to social value – high impact activities, co-created with customers and delivered by our in-house teams. We believe it is important to focus on social impact driven by the needs of local communities that truly support a just transition, particularly in the current economic climate, rather than simply chasing theoretical numbers calculated on a spreadsheet.
Far from being an obstacle in the current market, sustainability has become a competitive advantage, driving repeat business. Customers want partners who can deliver low-carbon, environmentally and socially responsible projects, and our track record puts us ahead of the curve. It’s helping us differentiate ourselves, win landmark projects and strengthen our market presence.
So, let's hold firm, continue to do the right thing and not have our progress sabotaged by the naysayers. Sustainability is not just our moral duty for future generations and our planet, it is one of the greatest opportunities for innovation, growth, and lasting positive impact.