World Environment Day: Creating a sustainable future

Global warming is increasing by 0.2 degrees every ten years and if it continues at this rate, it's likely to reach 1.5 degrees in the next 10 to 20 years.

We need to see transformational, environmental change across the world in order to combat this. And we now know that it is possible. The way countries around the world have reacted to the coronavirus pandemic shows that we are capable of creating and adapting to huge changes as societies. If this can be the case for the way we exist socially, surely this could be the case for our environmental efforts, too? 

The lockdown regulations that have been putting in place worldwide have actually caused the biggest carbon crash ever recorded. According to International Energy Agency (IEA), the world's CO2 emissions are expected to fall by 8% this year due to the shut down of global economies. 

However, even with the huge fall that we have seen so far this year, the carbon emissions that exist in our atmosphere causing intense and devastating climate change events will not stabilise until we reach net zero carbon. 

Longer term, if we don't continue with our efforts against climate change, there will be disruption to our ecosystems, rising sea levels, a changing and diminishing wildlife landscape, and increased risks to health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security, and economic growth.

So, what can we do about it?

With an ever increasing focus on, and an urgency to react to, the global challenge of climate change and sustainability, the role that cities play is becoming increasingly influential - as well as being part of the challenge itself.

And with a number of new innovations being made around how cities and their buildings are designed and how they function economically and socially, we are well aware that Bruntwood plays a hugely significant role in helping get this right.

Our purpose is all about ‘Creating Thriving Cities’ and that means we have a responsibility and a commitment to playing our fullest part in supporting our cities’ action on climate change and improving the environment.

We’ve already been working on improving sustainability as a business, implementing innovative energy storage at MSP, creating more green spaces, planning the retrospective fitting of solar panels on our buildings, supporting Manchester’s campaign to become carbon neutral by 2038, and pledging our commitment to the UKGBC’s Net Zero programme.

But we know that there is still a long way to go, and much more that we need to do as a business. We’ll continue to build on the work that we’re currently doing, introducing new programmes of work and committing to new targets that will help us to limit global warming and mitigate the effects of climate change.

This is vitally important to us, as we know that we can only fulfill our purpose of creating thriving cities if we can deliver sustainable and environmentally-conscious working and living spaces that best support the wellbeing of our customers, communities and colleagues.