In today's podcast we focus on decarbonising the UK’s vast building stock.

The global buildings sector is one of the most essential but also perhaps the most overlooked frontiers in the fight against climate change. 

Homes, offices, shops, schools, and factories - they're where we live, where we work, and where we gather. They are the fabric of our society. 

But, as highlighted by a new report from the Energy Transitions Commission, they are also responsible for a staggering one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions – that’s around 12.3 gigatonnes of CO₂ in 2022 alone. 

And for context, that’s more than the emissions from transport or from industry.

These emissions come not just from heating and cooling, but also from lighting, cooking, appliances, and even the materials and methods we use to build in the first place. 

And as the global population grows and more people gain access to energy-intensive services like air conditioning, the challenge is only getting more urgent.

The good news is that we already have the solutions. In its powerful new report Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible, the Energy Transitions Commission sets out a clear roadmap for transforming the sector - arguing that we can cut emissions while also improving quality of life and reducing energy bills – but only if we act quickly and ambitiously.

So what needs to happen? How do we turn strategy into action?

Today, we’re joined by a Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission to unpack the findings of this important report, explore what’s possible, and understand the path toward a zero-carbon buildings future.

Resources

• Energy Transitions Commission website
• ETC report "Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible"
• Lord Turner of Ecchinswell
• COP 30
• UK government plan for net zero
• Retrofit 25 "what's stopping us?" - The Building Centre