The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has called for urgent action across the construction sector to address the converging crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and social inequality. More than 200 delegates, including policymakers, academics and sustainability experts, joined CIOB’s second annual virtual sustainability conference, Sustainable Construction: Shifting the Narrative, to explore how the built environment can be transformed into a driver of positive change.
Built environment at the centre of climate and nature emergencies
Opening the event, Amanda Williams, Head of Environmental Sustainability at CIOB, underlined the scale of the challenge facing the industry. She noted that around 39% of global carbon emissions stem from the construction and operation of buildings, making the sector pivotal in the fight against climate change.
“The urgency to take joined-up action has never been greater,” Williams said. “The natural environment seems rarely out of the news headlines, but society is still slow to acknowledge the challenges we face. The built environment has a profound impact on climate, biodiversity and community wellbeing, and we must ensure that projects deliver net positive outcomes for people, nature and the environment.”
Global experts urge transformational change in construction
The virtual conference brought together high-profile voices from across the globe, including author and social entrepreneur Pooran Desai OBE, who highlighted the interconnected nature of today’s crises.
“We are realising the world is massively interconnected. We face many problems; social, environmental and economic, but we cannot solve them in siloes,” Desai said. “Solutions must join up across health, climate, jobs, migration and security. The construction industry can and must play a critical role in shaping a future that unites rather than divides.”
Desai emphasised that sustainability in construction must extend beyond carbon reduction to address health, housing, and social justice. He drew attention to the links between poor housing, pollution and preventable health conditions, arguing that sustainable construction can ease the burden on public services while enhancing quality of life.
Industry leaders showcase nature-positive and climate-positive solutions
Delegates heard from Cressida Curtis, Group Sustainability Director at Wates, Georgia Byrnes, Sustainability Engineer at Laing O’Rourke, Ian Pritchett, Co-Founder and Innovation Director of Greencore Homes, and Dr Cecilia Wandiga, Executive Director of CSTI in Kenya, among others.
Case studies presented during the event demonstrated the power of retrofit projects, low-carbon building materials, and nature-based design solutions to regenerate communities, cut emissions, and restore biodiversity.
From UK-based pilots to international initiatives, the examples showcased the growing momentum behind nature-positive construction practices, which integrate biodiversity into design and promote climate resilience.
A growing platform for sustainable construction
This was CIOB’s second annual sustainability conference, following on from Accelerating Towards a Net Zero Built Environment in 2023. The event forms part of the institute’s broader strategy to support the construction sector in embedding net zero carbon practices, circular economy principles, and social value creation across projects worldwide.
Speakers consistently highlighted that incremental improvements will not be sufficient. Instead, they called for systemic transformation driven by leadership, collaboration and innovation.
As Williams concluded: “Our projects must go beyond doing less harm. They must actively generate positive outcomes for people, the planet and the economy. This requires a shift in mindset – guided as much by imagination as by science.”
Driving the sustainability agenda in digital construction
The CIOB sustainability conference reinforces the central role of digital construction technologies in accelerating this transformation. Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins, and data-driven asset management were cited as key enablers of energy-efficient design, predictive maintenance, and whole-life carbon assessment.
By leveraging digital tools, the industry can reduce waste, optimise materials, and monitor building performance in real time – ensuring sustainability goals are embedded from planning through to operation.
The CIOB’s call to action is clear: the built environment sector must urgently address its impact on climate, nature and society. The solutions showcased at Sustainable Construction: Shifting the Narrative demonstrate that transformational change is possible, but only through cross-sector collaboration, bold leadership and widespread adoption of sustainable construction practices.
For more information on CIOB’s sustainability initiatives, visit CIOB Sustainability.
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