It’s quickly approaching 6-months since COP26 – and the message was incredibly clear, action was needed and it was needed now.

Radical change was highlighted across the industry, from the new to bring more innovation into products and the supply chain, to having more focus on sustainability throughout construction, to the longer term legacy from design and the implementation of technology.

And there is a mammoth task to retrofit the UK – and huge question marks over where the funding will come from to accelerate this.

UKREiiF in May will provide a perfect platform to re-address the issues raised not only at COP26, but also emerging trends across the industry. ‘ESG’ is now a becoming a buzzword you can’t escape, whilst almost every company is incorporating sustainability into the business values – or at least they are on the surface.

At UKREiiF we’re hoping to create transparency, where best practice can be shared, where innovative new solutions can be showcased, and where businesses and the key decision makers and drivers within them can be inspired and influenced to make change.

We have partnered with the UK Business Council for Sustainable Development to create the Net Zero Pavilion at UKREiiF where some of these conversations, discussions and workshops will take place on the very subject, ensuring it’s at the heart of the discussion.

UKBCSD is a collaborative group of organisations uniting their voice and values to make a more sustainable country – with members including Cranfield University, Prologis, Bloor Homes, Engie, City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, WSP, Jacobs and more.

And collaboration will be key to reducing carbon emissions within our industry.

It’s why we’re partnering with many others across UKREiiF to cover key topics such as active travel, sustainable design, modern methods of construction, investing in green energy and more.

Here’s a look at some of those sessions which will look to bring forward the Net Zero discussion…

  • Delivering Next Generation Green Infrastructure: Ideas for Creating Greener Buildings and Places

Speakers: Xavier Brice – Chief Executive of Sustrans, Paul King – Managing Director for Sustainability and Social Impact at Lendlease, Molly Straus – Head of Infrastructure at the Greater London Authority, Yetunde Abdul – Head of Climate Action at the UK Green Building Council, Jane Meek – Corporate Director of Economic Development at Carlisle City Council

  • Digital Transformation Creating a Clean Economy: Digital Work, Digital Resources

Speakers: TBC

  • Making The Financial Case for Decarbonisation to Ensure Meaningful Change

Speakers: TBC

  • Building Net Zero UK – What Are We Doing and What Should We Do Better?

Speakers: Mark Richardson – Head of Sustainable Innovation at Troup Bywaters + Anders, Kate Willard – Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board, Mayor Ben Houchen – Tees Valley Combined Authority, Jason Longhurst – Chair of the UKBCSD, Jennie Coleville – Head of ESG and Sustainability at Landsec

  • Unlocking Net Zero – How The Whole Life Carbon Roadmap Provides a Clear Pathway for Investors, Landlords and Owners

Speakers: TBC

  • Sustainable Development and Place – Will The Next Generation Thank Us For What We Leave Behind?

Speakers: Liz Barber – Chief Executive of Yorkshire Water, Jerry Tate – Founder of Tate and Co Architects, Amira Hashemi – Head of Sustainability at Frasers, Claudine Blamey – Head of Sustainability and Digital Strategy at Argent

  • Clean Growth and Levelling Up – Investing in Whole Systems Change and Sustainability

Speakers: TBC

  • Harnessing the Power of Places – How Might Business Partner at Pace and Scale to Unlock Positive Change for All?

Speakers: Sandi Rhys Jones OBE – Vice President for the CIOB, Simon Richards – Head of Sustainability at Sir Robert McAlpine, Liz Barber – Chief Executive of Yorkshire Water, Tina Paillet – President Elect of RICS

  • How Can The Public Sector Drive Decarbonisation?

Speakers: Katherine Fairclough – Chief Executive of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Melanie Leech – Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, Andrew Hirst – Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, Rachel Mason-Salkeld – Senior Consultant for Sustainability, Energy and Carbon Management at Ricardo Energy, Sally McGill – Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive of Staffordshire University

  • The Green Retrofit Agenda – How Does The Housing Sector Rise to the Challenge?

Speakers: Lord Martin Callanan – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for BEIS, Donna Williams – Director for Sustainability and Climate Change at Sanctuary Group, Carl Arntzen – CEO at Bosch, Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE – Chief Executive Officer at Green Finance Institute, Martin Reeves – Chief Executive at Coventry City Council

  • Clean Growth – Accelerating Clean Growth City Districts

Speakers: TBC

  • The Future of Delivering Climate Resilient Spaces

Speakers: TBC

  • Making the UK a World Leading Hydrogen Economy

Speakers: TBC

  • Landscape Institute Event – How Might We Build a Nature Based Economy That Works For People and the Planet

Speakers: TBC

You can register for the event here: www.ukreiif.com