CSIC and SEPA to drive net zero ambitions in Construction
Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and the Scottish
Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have signed a formal agreement to
support a sustainable future for the built environment, championing
innovation and inclusive growth.
The Sustainable Growth
Agreement sets out a joint vision for the construction sector,
recognising the need to build resilience and create more sustainable,
thriving places for people to live and work. It builds on the existing
relationship between CSIC and SEPA, with the organisations having worked
together on a number of innovation projects, housing and infrastructure
sector plans, and a funding call for circular construction initiatives,
as well as a variety of industry workshops, conferences and events.
Focusing
on three main areas, the partnership aims to support the industry's
journey to net zero, increase resilience in the built environment and
encourage investment in green infrastructure. In practice, it will
involve relationship building to bring the right people together at the
right time, support for sector leaders and innovators to lead the
transformation, and a focus on showcasing examples of innovation and
future best practice across the supply chain.
Activities
delivered as part of the agreement will focus on upskilling the
construction workforce – from leadership to entry level – with a range
of face-to-face training courses, practical sessions, webinars, and
mentoring opportunities to develop the skills needed to deliver a low
carbon built environment.
Both parties acknowledged the scale
and urgency of the transformation needed to get the sector to zero
carbon, with collaboration central to realising this ambition.
Stephen Good, CEO of CSIC, said: "With
increased innovation and new ways of working across the processes,
materials, systems and skills used by the built environment, we can
create a sustainable future for Scotland. The buildings we live and work
in, and how we build them, are central to our economic, social and
environmental impact.
"This partnership with SEPA cements an
already successful relationship which we hope to further build on with
cross-sector collaboration for the benefit of the entire sector. As well
as reaching net zero carbon targets, we have an opportunity laid out in
front of us to create a better place in which current, and future,
generations can work, learn, live and prosper."
Terry A'Hearn, SEPA CEO, said:
"We're in the middle of a climate and nature emergency and we need to
be taking steps to secure the prosperity and future of our planet. The
construction industry literally builds the future, but the industry
needs to reduce the resources it uses and create less waste to help
create a prosperous future and meet the ambitious net zero targets set
by Scottish Government.
"The Construction Scotland Innovation
Centre is already delivering innovation that will drive net zero in the
industry in Scotland, developing different ways of working. Swift, rapid
innovation is the key to building and implementing those solutions and
ensuring net zero targets are achieved.
"As a regulator, SEPA
will stop bad practice in the industry, as a good regulator should. But
we also need to encourage innovation. This Sustainable Growth Agreement
(SGA) with Construction Scotland Innovation Centre will support this
step change in the construction sector, tackling the risks and ensuring
environmental compliance is the norm."