Embodied Carbon Policy Framework
Embodied carbon is a significant and largely unregulated source of emissions from the built environment. This report explores how policy can support lower-carbon development, building reuse and circular economy principles.
This report sets out an implementable framework for addressing embodied carbon through the planning system, informed by international best practice and stakeholder engagement. It provides local authorities with a framework of policy approaches to encourage lower-carbon design, promote material reuse and support circular economy principles.
The report was produced as part of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance project “Dramatically Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment”, working with 15 European cities to empower them to significantly reduce embodied emissions in the built environment.
Key findings
- Policy can play an important role in reducing embodied carbon emissions from new developments.
- Early consideration of embodied carbon can help maximise opportunities for building retention, material reuse and lower-carbon design.
- Mandating embodied carbon assessments is the most effective way to provide a solid foundation for benchmarking future limits and targets.
- The report proposes a flexible framework built around four policy mechanisms: minimisation, assessment, limits and targets, and a banded contribution approach.
- Three implementation options are presented, giving local authorities a range of routes to introduce embodied carbon considerations through the planning process.
- A banded contribution mechanism is recommended as the most effective approach for driving emissions reductions and supporting policy delivery.