Created in 2018 as part of a World Green Building Council initiative, UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero programme has a mission to lead the UK’s transition to a net zero built environment.

Key Advancing Net Zero statistics

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History of Advancing Net Zero

Following the turning point of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, the World Green Building Council identified the need to accelerate its work as the world seeks to keep warming well below 2C and decarbonise the global economy by 2050. To meet this challenge, they launched the Advancing Net Zero campaign which aims to promote and support the acceleration of net zero buildings to 100% by 2050. UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero programme remains a key component of this global effort.

Major outputs of the programme include the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework Definition, which is now being applied to commercial, residential, and public sector buildings. The Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap for the Built Environment marks a major step forward for the industry by setting out a common vision and agreed actions for achieving net zero carbon in the construction, operation and demolition of buildings and infrastructure.

What does the Advancing Net Zero Programme do?

Now in its fifth year, the programme will continue to push to accelerate our sector’s decarbonisation journey, taking into account all areas of the supply chain, new and existing buildings. Looking ahead we will be delivering on the ambition set out within the Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap and supporting industry to secure our pathway to net zero.

The programme will do this through:

  1. Defining – ensuring consistency and credibility of net zero carbon building claims.
  2. Enabling – building understanding and knowledge through creating guidance and reports to support the construction and operation of net zero carbon buildings.
  3. Implementing – engaging with professionals to help them put net zero carbon building principles into practice.
  4. Advocating – for progressive policy interventions to drive and raise performance across the whole of the market.

Net Zero Buildings

Our Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework Definition provides industry with clarity on how to define a net zero building.

Commercial retrofit

UKGBC is developing guidance to enable industry to accelerate the delivery of commercial retrofit programmes.

Home retrofit

Upgrading the nation’s homes to be more energy efficient is one of the biggest opportunities the UK has to reduce carbon emissions.

Embodied carbon

We’re develop guidance to enable industry to accurately measure and report on embodied carbon.

Circular Economy

Understanding the role a circular economy can play in our sector’s ambition to reduce carbon emissions.

ANZ Forums

We’re running two industry forums: the Net Zero Carbon Solutions Forum and the Circular Economy Forum.

Renewable energy procurement

UKGBC is working to update and build on its renewable energy procurement guidance.

Carbon pricing and offsetting

UKGBC has developed guidance to equip industry to make responsible decisions around carbon offsetting.

Building the case for net zero

UKGBC is supporting our industry’s transition to net zero by undertaking studies into net zero buildings.

Events

Blogs

Advancing Net Zero Partners

Our Climate Change Mitigation work is made possible due to the generous support of our Advancing Net Zero Programme Partners

All Advancing Net Zero Resources