The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and the UK Minister for Industry and Economic Security Alan Mak MP last week launched an initiative for the UK’s leading construction firms to make a series of pledges under the “Five Client Carbon Commitments” towards a Net Zero future. Under Commitment #4 to “eliminate the most carbon intensive steel products,” the initiative will use the GSCC’s Steel Climate Standard to define the scope of carbon calculation for procured steel.

“Some of the UK’s largest firms have pledged to decarbonize the construction sector. This will provide a strong, market-driven signal for firms to procure low carbon materials. Utilizing our Steel Climate Standard’s straight-forward, science-based approach to calculate the embodied carbon of procured steel will enable firms to meet their targets. GSCC members are ready to partner.” GSCC Executive Director Adina Renee Adler

The CLC has set out that the Five Client Carbon Commitments provide a platform for partner firms to set achievable targets for the procurement and the phase-out of carbon-intensive construction inputs. In addition to steel purchases, firms will build in low-carbon procurement incentives in contracts, phase out fossil fuel use, procure low carbon cement and adopt the PAS 2080 Carbon Management in Buildings & Infrastructure standard. Leading firms launching the initiative include The Lower Thames Crossing, National Highways, Heathrow, Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water and Sellafield.

“The UK relies on infrastructure, but we need to run and build it in a way that supports the drive to a Net Zero future. We must be bold and evolve to adopt new materials and technologies. To be successful we need our partners and supply chain to come with us, and these commitments will start to provide clear client direction to decarbonise the largest emitting areas of construction.” CLC industry Sponsor for Net Zero and Biodiversity and Lower Thames Crossing Executive Director Matt Palmer

About the Global Steel Climate Council

GSCC is a non-profit organization created to lead an effort to reduce steel carbon emissions and encourage investments in lower-carbon emission technology as part of the global effort to decarbonize economies and societies. GSCC members are steel manufacturers, associations and other organizations in the steel supply chain that have a presence in 80+ countries around the world.

For more information, please visit GlobalSteelClimateCouncil.org.