Sector bodies issue eight-point action plan
Two key landscape bodies have issued a call to action to the UK sector on carbon capture and reduction in its projects.
The Landscape and Carbon report, prepared by the Landscape Institute (LI) and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) sets out the sector’s state of play on climate action and a route map for reducing and sequestering carbon in response to the UK’s 2050 net zero target.
The report calls for the landscape sector and wider industry to collaborate, using their “combined skill and expertise to reduce carbon in landscape schemes and works.
Landscape professionals can help other industries to deal with, capture and store carbon”, the report urges, “while delivering integrated solutions in climate resilience, biodiversity, and public health”.
It sets out, too how the landscape sector is also taking the urgent action required to reduce the quantity of carbon development generates.
The LI and BALI together will build on work already underway by others across landscaping, “to agree a carbon methodology, put standard data and practical tools in place, and help the sector improve the level of awareness and skills needed”.
Inviting stakeholders from across landscaping and wider industry to “engage and collaborate” in working groups, Landscape and Carbon sets out eight key recommendations to act on.
Agree a carbon assessment and management process for the UK landscape sector and refine the process as new techniques develop.
- Agree a standard for collecting and assessing data to allowcreation of tools to calculate carbon outcomes.
- Call on manufacturers, suppliers and assessors to provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all landscape products with fully specified data.
- Consider the needs of BALI and LI members and all landscape practitioners, particularly SMEs, and support their work to deliver net zero projects.
- Work closely with other UK built environment professionals and ensure they recognise the role and importance of the landscape sector in carbon reduction.
- Work with HR, training and development professionals to identify all necessary educational materials and build carbon into wider CPD programmes. Promote the carbon storage potential of landscapes to policy makers and wider public and highlight the contribution landscapes play in addressing the climate emergency.
- Create a sector-wide action plan to achieve net zero projects, with timescales for delivery. Assign tasks to organisations.
- The LI and BALI are inviting stakeholders across the landscape sector and beyond to actively participate and engage. They are setting up a steering committee to receive feedback and agree an action plan. A series of task and finish working groups are also being convened to develop the specific recommendations.
To get involved, visit landscapeinstitute.org/policy/landscape–and–carbon.
Robert Hughes, CEO, Landscape Institute, said:
“Landscape has a vital role to play in capturing and storing carbon,” said Landscape Institute CEO Robert Hughes. The report “ builds on years of dedication that colleagues across the sector have already put into reducing the carbon impact of development and also marks the start of lots of important work ahead. Collaboration and openness will be vital to take these recommendations forward.”
Wayne Grills, CEO, British Association of Landscape Industries, said:
“This is an important report, Highlighting the challenges ahead, the report also identified “the key role the landscaping industry needs to play for us to achieve our carbon net zero ambitions”, noted Wayne Grills, CEO of BALI, adding that the recommendations the report laid out “provide a strong call to action for the industry to unite and work together to successfully support both our own and other industries in reducing carbon.”
Landscape profession chartered body the Landscape Institute (LI) aims to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the public benefit. www.landscapeinstitute.org
The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) represents, supports and accredits the landscape sector, providing training, professional advice and opportunity to members, and quality assurance to their clients. www.bali.org.uk