The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a new guide setting out sustainability responsibilities for surveyors at all career stages.
Sustainability practice for surveyors provides foundational knowledge on climate change, resource use, biodiversity and social value, and is aimed at members, early-career professionals and senior practitioners updating their understanding of sustainability in professional practice.
The guide argues that sustainability is not a specialist function to be delegated to experts, but a cross-cutting responsibility across the surveying profession. It notes that surveyors influence decisions at every stage of an asset’s life cycle – from investment, valuation and planning through to construction, management, retrofit, regeneration and end of life.
Four sustainability issues are identified as priorities for the profession: climate change mitigation; climate change adaptation and resilience; circularity and resource use; and biodiversity and ecosystem health.
The publication introduces a seven-step workflow to help surveyors translate sustainability objectives into practical outcomes, covering context, scope, data and metrics, assessment and analysis, advice, action and learning.
Topics addressed include whole life carbon, climate risk, natural capital, sustainable procurement, ESG reporting, disclosure frameworks, data quality and the use of digital tools and AI.
The guide also sets out how sustainability connects to RICS professional ethics, including members’ responsibilities to encourage solutions that minimise harm and deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.
Published alongside the guide, RICS’ 2025 UN Global Compact Communication on Engagement report outlines how the institution is supporting the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals through its standards, guidance, partnerships and professional development activity.
The report references a range of RICS initiatives, including work on whole life carbon assessment, the Coalition for life cycle emissions alignment and reporting, International Cost Management Standards, the Built Environment Carbon Database, the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, residential retrofit standards, ESG valuation guidance and anti-corruption benchmarks.
It also highlights the RICS Sustainability Advisory pathway and updates to continuing professional development aimed at strengthening sustainability competencies across RICS products and services.
Anil Sawhney, head of sustainability at RICS, said: “Our members advance sustainability across assets, cities, and the natural environment. Today, we are publishing two documents to support their efforts.
“The new global sustainability guide offers a shared foundation for consistent outcomes across all practice areas and career stages. As a participant in the UN Global Compact, RICS is committed to its Ten Principles. Our Communication on Engagement report highlights our ongoing sustainability initiatives to address the environmental, social, and economic dimensions.”
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