{"id":117763,"date":"2022-10-31T15:55:41","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T15:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=117763"},"modified":"2022-10-31T16:50:20","modified_gmt":"2022-10-31T16:50:20","slug":"compromising-net-zero-strategies-not-answer-economic-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/energy-news\/compromising-net-zero-strategies-not-answer-economic-crisis\/117763\/","title":{"rendered":"Compromising net zero strategies is not the answer to the economic crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new report from Turner & Townsend argues that as fraught economic conditions make clients cautious, compromising net zero strategies isn\u2019t the answer<\/h2>\n

Compromising net zero strategies in the face of economic pressure is not the answer, says Turner & Townsend in a new report.<\/p>\n

As a potential recession looms<\/a> on the horizon, some customers may have reservations about committing to more expensive sustainability options.<\/p>\n

High inflation has impacted construction output<\/h3>\n

In its Autumn 2022 UK Market Intelligence report (UKMI)<\/a>, recognised that the coming months could see some clients pause, defer or scale back their projects<\/a>; or scrutinise cost savings before deciding to proceed.<\/p>\n

This warning comes against a turbulent economic backdrop, with the Bank of England base rate at a 14-year high, a quarterly reduction in construction new orders of 10.4 percent in Q2 2022, and a likely softening in construction output.<\/p>\n

Inflation remains high<\/a>, and the UKMI\u2019s forecasts for real estate and inflation tender price inflation across 2022 have both been raised to 9.0 percent. Though in 2023 this is expected to reduce to 3.5 percent for real estate, and 4.5 percent for infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Unifying the sector will be instrumental to prevent compromising net zero strategies<\/h3>\n

Martin Sudweeks, UK managing director of cost management at Turner & Townsend said:<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven that the most modern, energy-efficient technology and materials are rarely the cheapest, there\u2019s a danger that this desire to cut costs now may lead the construction industry \u2013 and its clients \u2013 to rein in their sustainability ambitions. Preventing this will require rational, whole life decision-making and the sector coming together<\/a> to drive the efficiencies needed to keep its net zero agenda on track.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report recommends that clients follow several key tactics, including:<\/p>\n