Opinion piece by Gillian Charlesworth, CEO, BRE

It’s now clearer than ever that science-based digital solutions can help many organisations make better sustainability decisions. As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently said, “in a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job”, net zero is much more achievable when we harness the data in front of us. Businesses must step up to play their part, and data has a major role to play in helping them consider and improve the social and environmental impact of their buildings and investments.

Our ever-present climate emergency means that organisations face a range of challenges when it comes to reducing their carbon emissions. Last year was the fifth-warmest year since records began, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, as we know all too well from the increasingly extreme weather we’ve seen in the UK over recent years. These changes will significantly impact our buildings – which are currently responsible for 40% of UK emissions – and businesses will need to make plans to mitigate the adverse impact these will have in order for the UK to successfully achieve its net zero ambitions.

Couple reaching net zero with soaring energy costs, and the challenges for businesses multiply still further. This makes it imperative that decision makers have access to a granular picture of how their buildings are performing, both from an environmental and an economic standpoint, so they can make informed decisions about how to reduce their businesses’ carbon footprint. Being driven by the data and results will enable them to do this effectively, while simultaneously yielding greater value for their assets down the line.

In the built environment, sustainability certifications are a key tool which can help businesses reduce their impact. Ultimately, they help drive sustainable improvements in the operational performance of buildings, by providing a holistic assessment framework which organisations can use to assess the social, environmental, and economic sustainability performance of their properties. You need to know where you started to understand how much progress you’ve made, and certification can be both the start and end point for this.

We believe that those in the built environment have a responsibility to inform businesses and organisations across the board about how to implement sustainability-driven changes using data-based tools, not just so they too can contribute to the global decarbonisation drive, but so that they can take advantage of its benefits. If businesses fail to act now, they risk facing a multitude of further challenges, including compliance failures, negative public opinion, and a significant loss of income.

The challenges may be daunting but the solutions are already available. Both the industry and Government have a responsibility to encourage the take up of sustainability schemes and data-driven tools which will get us to net zero. The real estate sector is taking a real lead in this space, but now we need corporations and businesses of all sizes and across markets to do the same. Now is the time for businesses to step up and take action to decarbonise their assets. The UK has an exciting opportunity to reset its economy along a sustainable development pathway, from which we will all benefit. However, failure to make use of the data available will mean many businesses are left behind.