As COP31 gets underway in Antalya, Turkiye this week, CICES has added its signature to an open letter penned by RIBA to the Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, which urges the Government to accelerate the decarbonisation of buildings while supporting economic growth.

The open letter, which has been signed by CICES and 22 other signatories, calls for a long-term national retrofit programme, and also stronger international action on whole-life carbon.

Commenting, CICES chief executive Simon Hamlyn said:

"As COP31 gets underway, CICES supports greater ambition on built environment decarbonisation through measures that promote retrofit, whole-life carbon assessment and low-carbon construction. Sustainability is a guiding priority for CICES—one of our 'golden threads'—and we welcome these measures.

"These actions are essential to achieving net zero. They also strengthen supply chains, drive innovation and support economic growth across the construction and built environment sector."

Find out more

  • The open letter can be read here
  • To read CICES' sustainability white paper, click here.
  • Interested in joining our sustainability committee? Here's how to get involved as a member.