3 June 2019 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal
Construction and property business leaders dominate a list of heavyweight companies calling for the UK to become a net-zero carbon nation by 2050.
More than 120 prominent business leaders have written to the prime minister urging the government to adopt the Committee on Climate Change's (CCC) recommendation for a UK 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target.
A third of the signatories are UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) members - reflecting a strong appetite for climate action from the construction and property sector.
The letter has been coordinated by the Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group in conjunction with business networks including UKGBC, the CBI, Aldersgate Group, and Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change. The declaration was profiled in the Financial Times and is available on the UKGBC's website.
Julie Hirigoyen, chief executive at the UKGBC, said: "The writing is on the wall for business and policymakers alike: the time for climate action is now. This letter demonstrates that the climate crisis is rising to the top of boardroom agendas by the sheer number of business heavyweights calling for government to legislate for a net-zero carbon UK.
"No doubt many of these leaders recognise the growing opportunities of transforming their businesses for a net-zero carbon economy. Given that the built environment contributes around 40 per cent of the UK's total carbon footprint, this is particularly true of the construction and property industry, so we're delighted to see so many of our members as signatories on this letter."
Key UKGBC member signatories to the letter include CBRE, Skanska and JLL.