Only ambitious carbon reduction goals will effect change, say experts at Construction Climate Challenge conference

Industry heavyweights warned guests at a London Construction Climate Challenge conference this week, hosted by Volvo Construction Equipment, that only big targets will trigger the innovation needed to make a meaningful difference in cutting carbon in infrastructure and construction projects.

An audience of contractors, clients, academics and sustainability professionals were told how setting brave targets and involving the entire supply chain is necessary to deliver the innovative processes, tools and behavioral changes needed to substantially reduce embedded and operational carbon in infrastructure projects. The event, held at the UK Government’s 1VS Conference Centre in London’s Westminster, was a one-day summit to promote the UK’s new PAS (Publicly Available Specification) 2080 standard – the world’s first framework for reducing whole life carbon in infrastructure. Commissioned by the government’s Construction Leadership Council and the Green Construction Board, it offers guidance and consistency on how to employ material, energy and labor efficiencies to reduce both capital and operational carbon and costs.