Global Sustainability Report
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Global Sustainability Report Innovating to meet net zero 2020 BURO HAPPOLD Contents 1. Foreword/Executive summary 4 13. Economic performance 42 1.1 Foreword 4 14. Fair practice and procurement 44 1.2 Executive summary 8 15. Region 46 2. Covid-19 green recovery 10 Asia 46 3. Climate change 12 Europe 48 3.1 Tackling embodied carbon 14 India 49 3.2 Flood risk management 15 Middle East 50 4. Energy and carbon 16 United Kingdom 51 United States 52 5. Materials and waste 22 16. Description and disclosures 54 6. Clean water and sanitation 26 17. Goals and standards alignment 56 7. Travel and transport 28 18. List of contributors 58 8. Biodiversity 30 9. Health and wellbeing 32 10. Inclusivity, equity and diversity 36 11. Community involvement 38 12. Training and education 40 Cover Epiphyllum oxypetalum Biodiversity (page 30) Protecting and enhancing our natural environment is fundamental to delivering sustainable solutions for a better and greener future. We continuously seek to preserve, create and enhance biodiversity and ecological functionality on our projects through an integrated, multidisciplinary approach that benefits both people and wildlife. Image: Unsplash / jose-ignacio-gonzalez-pansiera 2 3 GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT BURO HAPPOLD Reduce our own operational carbon 1.1 Foreword emissions by 21% by 2025 and aim to be net zero carbon from April 2021 by offsetting Neil Squibbs CEO residual emissions. Towards an equitable and green recovery We will do more Both society and business must adapt to Over the following pages, our 2020 Global the undeniable reality of climate change. Sustainability Report outlines how we are What we do now and in the future must progressing with our sustainability journey urgently be addressed to mitigate the through the lenses of our projects and operations. human race’s impact on the planet. Design all new Buro Happold is committed to regularly reporting As a business, we have a duty to do the and holding ourselves accountable to our people build projects to be right thing, both in our operations and on and the wider industry. We are on a route map to net zero carbon in our projects. As engineers, consultants and net zero carbon through the following targets: advisers, we also have a responsibility to use operation by 2030. our unique expertise and skills to embrace 1. Reduce our own operational carbon and overcome these challenges and make the emissions by 21% by 2025 and aim to necessary changes for the planet to thrive. be net zero carbon from April 2021 by offsetting residual emissions. This decade will see momentous change. The effects of Covid-19 have provided 2. Design all new build projects to be us with the prospect to work and design net zero carbon in operation by 2030. smarter, accelerating us towards a 3. Reduce embodied carbon intensity of better, more equitable future. all new buildings, major retrofits and infrastructure projects by 50% by 2030. The climate crisis presents our greatest Reduce embodied challenge and opportunity as we strive to deliver solutions with a sense of economy for carbon intensity of our planet and its resources. We look forward all new buildings, to working with you, towards a better future. major retrofits and infrastructure projects by 50% by 2030. 4 5 GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT BURO HAPPOLD We need to ensure that in our dealings with each other, our clients, collaborators and our work, we focus on equity at all levels — climate, social and racial justice — as they are inextricably linked.” — Neil Squibbs CEO IMAGE: Unsplash / Tom Barrett Tom / Unsplash IMAGE: 6 7 GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT BURO HAPPOLD KEY ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2020 1.2 Executive summary We have developed targets in line with Science Based We have established a global Duncan Price Partner Targets for our own business community of climate change Sustainability & Climate Change operations and will be net consultants and launched our zero carbon by April 2021 in Net Zero Carbon and Climate line with our WGBC Net Zero Resilience consultancy services. Carbon Buildings Commitment. Context economy connected to ambitious government policy and international agreements. We are playing our part by lending In the coming decade the world must step up action to our business voice in support of industry leadership groups. address the crises of climate, biodiversity and equity. We welcome the UK Prime Minister’s announcement that The world is waking up. Governments, cities, investors, the UK will set its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) businesses and the public are all declaring the need for We are influencing international to at least 68% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by urgent change. Institutions are undergoing a massive 2030. This announcement is among the most ambitious in climate policy at COP26 reappraisal of risk, asset value and investment in the Our in-house building the world and commits the UK to cutting emissions at the through multiple industry context of an overheating and more volatile world. There performance dashboard has fastest rate of any major economy so far. The government bodies, national policy is growing pressure to invest in new technologies to been created to report on now needs to develop a comprehensive and joined up net zero through Aldersgate Group, decarbonise economies and ensure that developments modelled and measured energy strategy that builds on the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan and Green Building Councils and deliver real social value for communities. consumption, operational through a combination of domestic policy and international professional institutions, and agreement at COP26, develop a strategy for sectors carbon and embodied carbon It is clear that as we look ahead to the COP26 climate at international and local levels currently not covered by the NDC like shipping and aviation. for all projects. It is being summit, the coming months and years will be pivotal in through C40 Cities programmes determining the course of the next three decades and We are in no doubt that this is a huge and complex challenge rolled out during 2021. beyond, for ourselves and all the families and businesses and direct commissions requiring collaboration across the whole of our sector and that we rely on and the planet that sustains us. with city authorities. society at large. Based on the lessons learnt in the past year, we have confidence in the passion of our staff, our clients and Sustainability leadership our collaborators — change is happening and will continue. In 2019 and 2020, Buro Happold joined with others in making public statements declaring a commitment to tackling What Buro Happold is going to do the climate and biodiversity breakdown and addressing Our Global Sustainability Report describes the progress inequality. We have set out our leadership ambition across we are making in meeting the targets we have set and the We have contributed to a suite of sustainability areas of relevance to our clients We have established a climate impact we are having through some example projects. multiple industry leadership ranging from net zero carbon, climate resilience and circular leadership group to embed economy through to health, wellbeing and social value. groups including Green Buro Happold will work towards our objective to be a our Climate Emergency 1.5°C aligned business. This means gathering data on our Building Council task groups We have set out a clear vision that ensures long-term Action Plan across each part project footprint, setting science-based targets, measuring on Net Zero Carbon and Social prosperity while reducing our environmental footprint and disclosing progress, reviewing regularly, and taking of our business with SMART and ultimately delivering net positive social and Value. We have committed action as part of our business processes. We will also objectives, carbon budgets and environmental good. This means developing our skills internal funding and initiated continue to contribute to the system change required review of progress at CEO/ and the services we provide to our clients in assuring through informing policy, co-producing industrial standards a practice-wide Climate their own future prosperity in a flourishing world. CFO and regional MD levels. and investing in technical and strategic innovation. Knowledge Network. We intend to work tirelessly to drive the paradigm shift that is needed to create a regenerative model where development aligns with the rebuilding of a more natural world to secure prosperity for future generations. We need a clear decarbonisation roadmap for every sector of the 8 9 GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT BURO HAPPOLD Now more than ever, in the midst of such sweeping 2. Covid-19 green recovery change, organisations have an opportunity to embed greater diversity, equity and inclusion”. 40 Cities Maria Smith Director Sustainability Santa Monica City Services Building will meet the world’s most rigorous criteria for sustainability, resiliency and long-term cost-effectiveness. We must deliver a green recovery that is healthy, action across public, private and sustainable and fair. third sectors can build and maintain momentum while reimagining As we look towards life beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, how we shape our buildings, Buro Happold is defining what role our practice — and the cities and public spaces. construction industry — will play in a green recovery for all. Thirdly, we must share learning on how to drive change to expedite Stopping to think — create jobs and enable innovation action at scale. Achieving climate what do we really value? while promoting the sharing and commitments requires collective development of skills and knowledge. effort, advocacy for faster industry Now, more than ever, we are aware We also know that city-wide climate change towards regenerative design of our relationships with both our action can deliver enormous health practices and evaluation of all new local communities and the wider and economic benefits, while efficient projects against the aspiration to global systems in which we sit.