It is time for the industry to rise to The Climate Crisis Challenge

To mark the launch of what we hope will be a game-changing campaign, this week’s issue of Property Week is dedicated to the climate crisis and has been guest edited by UKGBC chief executive Julie Hirigoyen, who argues that it is “time for radical change” in a powerful leader piece.

“The time has come for bold and decisive action,” she says. “Property professionals need to choose between being part of the solution… or being part of the problem.”

At the moment, the built environment is a huge part of the problem, accounting for an estimated 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint.

However, this means it could be an even bigger part of the solution. In a special feature setting out the campaign’s objectives, we outline five key action points the industry needs to take to reduce its carbon footprint and start to “be the solution”.

The first of these is the WorldGBC Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. Currently, 13% of UKGBC’s Gold Leaf members are signed up to the commitment and the aim of The Climate Crisis Challenge is to encourage more property companies to sign up to the commitment by the COP26 UN climate change summit in Glasgow in November.

To that end, Property Week will be bringing you regular climate crisis-focused analysis, thought leadership and content in the run-up to the summit. We are also planning some exciting events and initiatives to support the campaign. So please get in contact and tell us what you are doing to tackle the climate crisis and how you want to get involved in our campaign.

In the meantime, read this week’s special climate crisis issue, which includes hard-hitting comments from industry leaders such as JLL EMEA chief executive Guy Grainger, an analysis on whether green buildings command a green premium or not and a data piece on the number of BREEAM-certified buildings in the UK. We hope it makes for a sobering and inspiring read in equal measure.