White Paper Lunch

Anderson Bell Christie (ABC) Architects have launched their White Paper today with RIAS and RTPI, urging the Scottish Government to set a legally binding target for embodied carbon and to link carbon emissions to place. ABC’s research, conducted with Scottish Enterprise and Innovate UK, aims to achieve net zero by 2045, with a target of 150kgCO2e/m2 for embodied carbon across lifecycle stages A to D.  Embodied carbon, now the largest source of emissions in new buildings, will account for nearly all construction emissions by 2045.

ABC’s proposal includes increasing Scotland's tree canopy toward the European urban average of 25% to offset emissions and support national greening and climate goals. The White Paper calls for legislation in several areas, including: a standard measurement for embodied carbon, an enforceable limit of 150kgCO2e/m2 by 2045, the creation of a deconstruction industry, a national materials mining database, and mandatory material reuse requirements.

The White Paper also advocates for new legislation to measure and manage carbon sequestration through tree planting, including more focus on local authority tree surveys and ensuring broader protections for documented trees.  ABC’s goal is to enable a place-based approach to net zero, improving urban environments and promoting sustainability.  Director Jonathan McQuillan said, “We recognise that introducing several elements of wide-reaching legislative change will be challenging, so we must start now to be ready in 20 years’ time.”

The full report can be accessed here: www.balance.andersonbellchristie.com