Over 100 people from the local construction industry attended an event at The Museum of Making on Thursday 6 February.

The event, hosted by Derby City Council, in partnership with SCAPE, aimed to give attendees a clear roadmap to decarbonisation. According to the latest data from DESNZ, 25% of the UK’s CO2e emissions come from the built environment.

The event included an opening speech from Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, Councillor Carmel Swan and an overview of the Council’s own ongoing journey to net zero as well as the role of procurement in delivering sustainable construction.

The second half of the event focused on the practicalities of decarbonisation within construction and gave participants an opportunity to hear about the Supply Chain Sustainability School and The Carbon Reduction Code.

The event supported the Council’s wider net zero ambition. With ongoing regeneration work across the city, the Council wants to ensure that the city develops with the climate and sustainability at the forefront of its ambitious plans.

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said: “It’s vitally important that we work alongside our construction industry and wider supply chain partners as they are key to being able to reach net zero, not just in Derby but the wider region and globally.

“This event has given us the perfect opportunity to open lines of communication about decarbonisation and we’ll keep those conversations going.”

Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at SCAPE, said: “We were delighted to support this event, which provided a crucial platform for Derby’s construction supply chain to engage with buyers and gain practical insights into decarbonisation.

“The built environment is responsible for a significant proportion of the UK’s carbon emissions, so it’s vital that businesses at every level of the supply chain have the knowledge and support they need to deliver more sustainable projects.

“By working together and accessing initiatives like the Supply Chain Sustainability School and the Carbon Reduction Code, we can drive real change and help ensure that the industry moves towards a low-carbon future.”