sustainability and the environment - presentation to ice

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1© Responsible Solutions Ltd.

Sustainability and the Environment

What is Sustainability?

ICE G&S Sustainability Seminar

17 May 2007


Ian Nicholson• Managing Director, Responsible Solutions.

– Specialist environmental and social responsibility consultancy

– Specific focus on the construction sector,

– Delivering pragmatic solutions from boardroom to site.

• 23 years in the construction industry– Front line project work (road, water, building)

– Business improvement/change

– Environmental/sustainability – research, strategy, training

• Technical Manager, CEEQUAL.

• Construction Advisor, Envirowise

• ICE Environment and Sustainability Board member

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Presentation outline• Context

• Where are we now

• Where do we need to be

• Challenges

• Informative

• Thought provoking

• Challenging

• Uncomfortable

• No comprehensive answers


So what is sustainability…

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Definitions

• Sustainability

– A state

– The capacity for continuance

• Sustainable Development

– The process for achieving sustainability


Some common definitions

“A better Quality of Life for everyone, now and for generations to come.”

“Not cheating on your kids”

Living off Natures interest; not its capital

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Corporate Social Responsibility

“An organisational response to delivering sustainable development”

Quentin Leiper ICE President 2007

Key elements of a responsible organisation:

• recognise its impact on society

• take these impacts into account in the way it operates, in a positive way

• work in partnership with othersDTi Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2002.


Environment

SocialEconomic

Triple Bottom Line

Quality of Life

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Environment

SocialEconomic

Triple bottom line


Putting it in context

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Putting it in contextEnvironment

All the earth's systems and resources -naturally sustainable



Society

Humans and societies and all species

how do we operate and have a quality of life that does not undermine the earth's natural systems?

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Economy is Society’s mechanism for achieving Quality of Life.

do we operate our business in way which is fair and equitable to employees, society & environment?


Society

Economy



Society

Economy

…and if we don’t have an environment where does that leave us?

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Our current status

How many planets we need if everyone in the world lives as the

average UK citizen.


Sorry to tell you this…

We only have one!

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DEFRA – 5 Principles


What does this mean in practice?

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What is a sustainable project?

creating a solution which balancesthe

impacts of the natural environmentwith

the values & beliefs of the communityin a

profitable, responsible & ethical way


So what are some of the issues we need to consider?

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What is our current performance

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6tonnes of material for every person in the UK

32© Responsible Solutions Ltd. 92m tonnes of waste

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3 times more than all UK households


13m tonnes unused materials

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90% non energy materials extracted in UK


52% of CO2 emissions from buildings

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27% from transport

We cause disturbance & nuisance

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Our work has a visual impact


Employ 2.1million people

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There is a growing skills shortage


60 deaths per year on

construction sites

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Some economic facts

•circa 8.2% of GDP

•30% of our output is to the public sector

•savings potential of between £500m-£2.6bn from government construction activity (NAO estimate)


Where do we need to be

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X X X X


BedZED analysisUK Typical

CO2: 11.0 t/capitaEF: 5.2 gha/cap2.7 planets

Nourishment30%

Shelter15%

Goods31%

Mobility13%

Services11% Nourishment

31%

Shelter6%

Goods39%

Mobility9%

Services15%


BedZED best

Nourishment33%

Shelter5%

Goods36%

Mobility14%

Services12%

BedZED eco-slob


Sources: BFF, Bill Dunster Associates, Bioregional, SEI-York

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10 Principles of One Planet Living1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste

3. Sustainable transport

4. Sustainable materials

5. Local and sustainable food

6. Sustainable water

7. Natural habitats and wildlife

8. Culture and heritage

9. Equity and fair trade

10.Health and happiness


10 Principles of One Planet Living1. Zero carbon2. Zero waste








10. Health and happiness

• Achieve net CO2 emissions of zero from developments and their infrastructure

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10 Principles of One Planet Living1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste3. Sustainable transport








• Eliminate waste flows to landfill and for incineration


10 Principles of One Planet Living

• Reduce reliance on private vehicles and achieve major reductions of CO2 emissions from transport

1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste

3. Sustainable transport4. Sustainable materials







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• Transform materials supply to the point where it has a net positive impact on the environment and local economy

1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste











• Transform food supply to the point where it has a net positive impact on the environment, local economy and peoples' well-being

1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste









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• Achieve a positive impact on local water resources and supply

1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste




6. Sustainable water7. Natural habitats and

wildlife






• Regenerate degraded environments and halt biodiversity loss

1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste









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• Protect and build on local cultural heritage and diversity

1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste











• Ensure that the OPL community's impact on other communities is positive

1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste









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• Increase health and quality of life of OPL community members and others

1. Zero carbon

2. Zero waste








10.Health and happiness


Some more immediate steps

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The Stern Review• Emissions must be cut using the following methods:

– Increased energy efficiency

– Reduce demand for energy intensive technologies

– Adoption of clean power, heat and transport technologies

– Reduction of deforestation

– Supporting innovation and deployment of low carbon technologies

– Remove barriers to energy efficiency: inform, educate and persuade individuals to change their behaviour.


An Introduction to CEEQUAL• Key features of CEEQUAL

– a points-scoring-based assessment scheme

– an incentive to apply bestenvironmental practice

– a developing benchmark against which expected standards of environmental performance can be set

– applicable to all types and sizes of civil engineering projects

– is a voluntary award – not a legal requirement

– not a competitive scheme, but an achievementscheme and award

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An Introduction to CEEQUAL•What environmental issues does the Scheme address?

•12 CEEQUAL sections•180 questions, 1000 points

1) Project Environmental Management (12%)

2) Land Use (8.2%)

3) Landscape (6.9%)

4) Ecology & Biodiversity (8.5%)

5) Archaeology & Cultural Heritage (6.2%)

6) Water Issues (8.9%)


An Introduction to CEEQUAL•12 CEEQUAL section headings7) Energy (8.5%)

8) Use of Materials (9.5%)

9) Waste Management (8.7%)

10) Transport (7.6%)

11) Nuisance to Neighbours (7.3%)

12) Community Relations (7.7%)

•Visit www.ceequal.comfor more information

http://www.ceequal.com

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The key challenge


The Construction industry has a significant role to play in delivering

sustainable development

Yes – we are currently part of the problem

BUT

We are also a key element of the solution

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Eliminate the silos

• Contractors – don’t wait for designers

• Designers – tell your clients the sustainable alternatives.

• Clients/Developers – don’t assume what your customers want.

• Don’t assume it will cost you more.

• Make it your job to…


Promote team working

• Lets lose the blame culture

• Invest in skills and people development

• Encourage creative thinking

• Make one planet thinking the norm.

• Invest in our people

• Invest in your supply chain

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Work with our people• It is people who

– will design better

– will build with less resources, work with and develop communities

– will reduce emissions and improve our safety performance

– help with disaster relief, support the needy and homeless and alleviate poverty

– will make the difference we want to see in the world

– will protect and enhance our environment


A Win-Win solution?

• We are struggling to engage people in the industry.

– Image?

– Perception?

• We need to change behaviour and culture

– Deliver a more sustainable future

– Demonstrate our positive contribution

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…be the change you want to see in the world. Ghandi


a story....

Alan Knights Sepik River Journey.

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Alan Knight’s Sepik River Journey


One final question

Do you understand the impacts of what you buy and sell?

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Thank you for listening…

…any Questions?