Sustainability

RICS is an active member of the UN Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC). Founded at COP21, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme and with 280 members, including 39 countries, the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction is the leading global platform for all stakeholders committed to a common vision: A zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector. This is orchestrated via the Buildings Breakthrough Agenda facilitated by GlobalABC.

RICS is now a supporting partner for Buildings Breakthrough: Priority International Action B1: Standards and Certification and B5: Capacity and Skills. Head of Sustainability Anil Sawhney was recently appointed to the B1 (Standards and Certification) steering committee.

RICS is also working with Urban Land Institute to develop a pioneering set of universal internal carbon pricing principles. This is a task force of seven leading industry organisations, including World Building Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). This collaboration sets out a series of high-level universal principles for implementing a voluntary carbon price, to be used by any organisation in the real estate sector.

RICS, in collaboration with organisations covering a breadth of the UK built environment, have launched the Built Environment Carbon Database.

BECD is free to use and provides a library of product carbon factors and a place to report results of whole life carbon assessment for buildings. We are now working to improve BECD and widen its scope by aligning with the new life cycle assessment reporting formats introduced by the second edition of the RICS WLCA standard.

RICS is a co-intervention lead of the MTAA’s Lever 1 ‘Align behind whole life carbon’, focusing on the adoption of life-cycle assessment.  We are developing global principles to drive harmonisation in whole life carbon accounting through a globally consistent approach.

RICS is a core member of the WLCP.Co promoting consistent measurement of whole life carbon. The Whole Life Cycle Policy Coalition (WLCP.Co) is led by the UK Department of Energy Security (DESNZ) and Net-Zero and the World Building Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

RICS is a founding collaborator of the pilot version of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS), launched in 2024. This is the UK’s first standard for verifying buildings as net zero carbon. Aligned with the RICS WLCA standard, the UKNZCBS also builds on previous work in the net zero carbon field by fellow collaborators.

The International Energy Agency cites the RICS Global harmonisation framework for whole life carbon assessments in the built environment in its Breakthrough Agenda Report 2024. Our guide is cited under the report’s Chapter 7 ‘Buildings’ amongst key examples of the progress made towards guidance and recommendations to advance the harmonisations of WLCAs.

RICS is a signatory of the Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter (PBCAC). The PBCAC facilitates professional bodies to take action by sharing skills, knowledge and resources. It aims to spread expertise across the sector and ensure it reaches members, with a focus on professional development.

RICS, in collaboration with organisations covering a breadth of the UK built environment, have been part of a Sustainable Markets Initiative taskforce focusing on Cleantech Homes. The taskforce published a report promoting the case for faster decarbonisation of the UK’s new-build residential property sector.

The report highlights the progress made to date and the further industry and policy actions required to accelerate the transition from gas to clean technologies.

The Circular Do Tank (CDT) is a dynamic team of multidisciplinary experts tackling challenges relating to the circular economy. RICS President Tina Paillet is part of the CDT’s committee, which aims to drive circularity in the industry, facilitates data and information sharing, and promotion the adoption of circular practice.

RICS is a member of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG). FIG is a global ‘umbrella’ organisation, bringing together professional surveying institutions, international and government agencies, and technology vendors. Founded in 1878, aims to ensure the disciplines of surveying and all who practice them meet the needs of the markets and communities that they serve. RICS has participated in a number of FIG-hosted initiatives, such as Working Week and Climate Compass.

RICS has supported administrative and secretary general functions for the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy, completing a process of legal due diligence and incorporation. This has included the upgrade of the CASLE website, maintaining the quarterly newsletter and re-organisation of CASLE finances.