Construction industry firms from around the South West Conference will put climate change in the spotlight at a major online conference this autumn.
Two organisations leading the change agenda in construction are teaming up to host the live online event challenging the sector to revolutionise its approach to achieving environmental best practice in building.
Constructing Excellence South West and the RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects) are calling on clients, architects, contractors and industry professionals to join the RIBA Climate Challenge Online Conference on September 16, 2020.
The RIBA developed the 2030 Climate Challenge to help architects meet net zero - or better – whole-life carbon for new and retrofitted buildings by 2030, setting a series of targets for architectural practices to adopt to reduce operational energy, embodied carbon and potable water.
More than 120 RIBA chartered practices have signed up to the challenge but it is clear it will need wider industry buy-in to succeed, said RIBA.
The free online event will be chaired by John Boughton, deputy managing director at construction firm Willmott Dixon, and includes a range of speakers who will offer their expertise and insight on the RIBA targets and working across the industry. They include:
Gary Clark - chair of the RIBA Sustainable Futures Group. Gary Clark will talk through the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, outlining the key metrics and principals.
Emma Osmundsen - managing director of Exeter City Living, and architect Tomas Gaertner of SE3 Design who will present on Exeter’s city centre Passivhaus homes being built by the Exeter City Council owned developer.
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Adam Spall - regional director of AHR architects, who will talk through the multiple RIBA South West Award 2019 winning 海角视频 Hydrographic Office at Taunton.
Tara Gbolade - of Gbolade Design Studio. She will talk about the development and implementation of the sustainability strategies for the government-designated Harlow & Gilston Garden Town.
There will also be a Q&A session giving participants a chance to ask questions of the panel.
Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) leads the change agenda in construction regionally as part of Construction Excellence’s national mission to improve the industry’s performance and produce a better built environment.
Andrew Carpenter, CESW chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be working with the RIBA to bring together a high-profile regional event like this, tackling a fundamental issue for our industry and society going forward.
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“The RIBA has taken a lead in developing the 2030 Climate Challenge but all of us - clients, contractors and supply chain - have a key role in seeking sustainable ambitions beyond just the building regulation standards in order that the various climate declarations and local authority targets can be achieved.
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“We want to highlight the challenge, promote best practice and showcase where, as a region, the South West is already taking a lead on this and many other forward-looking issues in construction.”
Jon Watkins, regional director, RIBA South West, added: “RIBA is delighted to be partnering with Constructing Excellence South West to share knowledge and the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge across a client and supplier chain audience.
“Through collaboration across the sector, we can make the changes together that will support better sustainable delivery models that work for everyone.”
Registration for the RIBA Climate Challenge Online Conference is free, with more information available by clicking