CABE conference preview

Who is responsible for making sure that a building project delivers on sustainability – the designer, the contractor, the client? Or is it everyone who is involved in the project, right from the project’s inception team, through to the people who are involved in its demolition?

If the construction industry is going to meet the target of net-zero carbon by 2050, then sustainable practices and techniques need to be applied at all project stages; it is the responsibility of all professionals to embed sustainability into their roles to minimise the risks to the environment. This is not going to be an easy change and it will require a significant shift in mindset and culture for us all.

We all know that the construction industry plays a big part in reaching the net-zero target, but the challenge is great, and it is sometimes difficult to know where to start.

The Embedding Sustainability Conference will be tackling these challenges head on. Expert speakers including Julie James MS, the Welsh Minister for Climate Change; David Symons, on behalf of the Society for the Environment; and Simon Ayers, CEO at TrustMark, will be discussing the climate energy impact and looking at how the construction industry can play its part in reducing the impact on the environment. What’s more, we will be investigating the wider economic risks and opportunities, taking a lead from a legal and financial perspective.

The collaborative style of this conference will see expert panels interacting with the audience, delving deeper into the issues. An expert clinic will give you the opportunity to have a one-to-one discussion to find answers to questions that directly relate to your professional role. And for the first time, we have introduced an academic research forum. There are tremendous levels of excellent research being undertaken within the construction industry, and the forum will allow the dissemination of their outcomes. You will be able to ask questions, challenge their ideas, and ultimately discover new opportunities that could help you to implement change.

If we are going to reverse climate change and protect the planet for future generations, we need to embed sustainability now. By joining us in October, you will discover how you can make the changes that are so desperately needed and make a difference to the environment.

Conference tickets are on sale now at cbuilde.com/cabeconf2022

David Symons, UK Director of Sustainability, WSP, speaking on behalf of Society for the Environment

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, Welsh Government

Simon Ayers, Chief Executive Officer, TrustMark

Dr Deborah Adkins, Senior Lecturer, University of the West of England

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