Council is keen to engage with our members and to hear your questions and views and we will be setting time aside on each meeting agenda for this purpose. If you have a question to raise with Council please visit Ask Governing Council (rics.org).
Retrofit is eclipsing new‑build as the rational default for sustainable construction. London’s 75 London Wall shows how retention-first strategies cut embodied carbon, protect heritage and lift building lifecycle performance.
Keeping structure and façades reduces the carbon footprint of construction and strengthens whole life carbon outcomes, validated through whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment. End-of-life reuse in construction, circular economy principles and sustainable material specification are moving from ambition to baseline practice, with environmental product declarations (EPDs) guiding low embodied carbon materials and green building products. The direction aligns with BREEAM and the emerging BREEAM v7 focus on circular economy in construction and environmental sustainability in construction.
Industrialised and modular delivery is gaining traction across the Benelux, indicating European mainstreaming. Factory precision can cut waste and improve quality, supporting eco-design for buildings, resource efficiency in construction and low carbon construction materials. Standardisation strengthens life cycle cost certainty and supports sustainable building practices in green construction and eco‑friendly construction.
Escalating climate signals demand resilient, low-impact construction. A global analysis records permafrost active layers thickening by more than 36 cm a year in some mountain regions, requiring re‑engineered foundations, utilities and asset strategies. England’s drought debate confirms water scarcity planning as core scope: energy-efficient buildings and sustainable building design must integrate rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, green infrastructure and sustainable urban development to reduce operational demand.
Energy volatility and “fossilflation” elevate business risk. Developers are prioritising net zero carbon buildings, low carbon design and carbon neutral construction to decouple assets from fossil fuels, supported by renewable building materials and electrified systems. Decarbonising the built environment with net zero whole life carbon pathways delivers carbon footprint reduction while improving life cycle cost and long‑term commercial performance.
Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do
get in touch.
Let's chat!
WLC Assistant
Ask me about sustainability
Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?
