When a building is given a new life, it is better for it to be modified to make it more energy efficient, or for it to be demolished and rebuilt?
Carbon emissions in the built environment include both operational carbon, associated with the energy required to run a building, and embodied carbon, emitted during the construction of a building.
Many materials used widely in construction have a high carbon cost, such as steel and cement.
Embodied carbon emissions from the construction and refurbishment and demolition of buildings each year total more than the aviation and shipping industries combined [1].
This means that for London to meet the Mayor’s target of being net zero carbon by 2030, there is an urgent need to reduce emissions from building and construction – both the operational emissions and the embodied carbon.
The London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee will meet tomorrow for the first of two meetings to scrutinise the London Plan’s policies in this area and the trade-offs between retrofitting and rebuilding.
The guests are:
- Rhian Williams, Strategic Planner, Greater London Authority (GLA)
- Arun Rao, Principal Policy and Programmes Officer, Environment, GLA
- Dr Julie Godefroy, Sustainability consultant and Head of Sustainability at Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
- Louisa Bowles, Sustainability Lead at Hawkins\Brown and Mayor’s Design Advocate
- David Cheshire, Director, AECOM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations and Management)
- Jon Hall, Whole Life-Cycle Carbon Officer, GLA
- Nina Di Certo, Principal Policy and Programme Officer - Waste and Circular Economy, GLA
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 1 March 2023 from 10am in The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
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Notes to editors
- https://www.ukgbc.org/news/ukgbc-welcomes-environmental-audit-committee-report/
- Full agenda papers.
- Sakina Sheikh AM, Chair of the Planning and Regeneration Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the Planning and Regeneration Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Emma Bowden on 07849 303 897. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.