NEWS SENT ON BEHALF OF ENCORD, THE EUROPEAN NETWORK OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT A CO2e protocol assisting construction companies around the world to measure and report their carbon emissions has been launched today. ENCORD - the European Network of Construction Companies for Research and Development - says the protocol uses best practice and will ultimately encourage and enable the next steps for reducing carbon emissions from construction processes to be taken. The protocol was developed by the members of ENCORD, assisted by partners from like-minded worldwide construction organisations. It details the method to be used for measuring the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of an organisation within the construction sector.
It represents over two years of collaborative work by some of the largest construction companies in the world.
Today’s launch comes ahead of governments and businesses from around the world meeting in Rio for The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) between 20–22 June. President of ENCORD, Ger Mass, said, ‘It is some credit to the construction sector that the protocol represents one of the first sector initiatives to receive the new ‘built on GHG protocol’ kite mark. This follows a formal review process with the World Resources Institute which owns and manages the Green House Gas Protocol, the foremost standard for corporate greenhouse gas emissions measurement and reporting.
‘The protocol represents a great example of businesses working collaboratively to agree an approach to tackling a common threat in global climate change and is reflective of the themes of the Rio conference. ‘The intention is that with clear guidance on how the sector measures and reports on our emissions, we can accelerate work to reduce emissions from specific construction related activities and operations.’ The protocol’s co-author Jesse Putzel, Sustainability Manager at BAM, added: ‘Every one of the companies in ENCORD has already started to amend their practices as a result of working together on this protocol.
‘With regulatory requirements increasing, it provides a helpful foundation for companies both large and small around the world who wish to measure and report on a common and accepted basis. ‘It offers companies across the world somewhere to turn and importantly will act as a catalyst for targeting specific areas of operation for reducing emissions – such as across the supply chain. Improving efficiencies and reducing emissions is the main objective of any measurement.’ The protocol follows the methodology of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) March 2004 revision, which was originally developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The GHG protocol is used as the basis of measurement by organisations such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) who invite organisations around the world to supply information on their performance for disclosure to investors. E N D S The protocol is supported by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Global Reporting Initiative Construction and Real Estate Sector Supplement, the Carbon Disclosure Project and the World Green Building Council. To view and download a copy of the protocol please visit: http://www.encord.org/?page_id=260 The protocol will also be available on the website of the Green House Gas Protocol over the coming weeks. Please see http://www.ghgprotocol.org/ References: For further information contact: Jesse Putzel, Sustainability Manager, BAM Construct UK Ltd -
[email protected] 01442 238 414. Charlie Law, Head of Environmental Management, BAM Construct UK Ltd -
[email protected] Noel Morrin, SVP Sustainability and Green Support, Skanska AB -
[email protected] ENCORD The European Network of Construction Companies for Research and Development (ENCORD) is a network of active members from the construction industry, represented by decision-makers and executives working on research, development and innovation (R,D&I) and providing service to experts and the operational sides within the member companies. For further information see http://www.encord.org
List of ENCORD companies: [to add later] RIO+20 RIO+20 is being organized in pursuance of General Assembly Resolution 64/236 (A/RES/64/236), and will take place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. More information can be found at http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.html
WRI and Green House Gas Protocol World resources institute is a global environmental think tank that goes beyond research to put ideas into action. They have over 50 active projects working on aspects of global climate change, sustainable markets, ecosystem protection, and environmentally responsible governance.
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. The GHG Protocol Initiative, a decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is working with businesses, governments, and environmental groups around the world to build a new generation of credible and effective emissions accounting and reduction programs for tackling climate change
