Carbon Critical World

This part of the CIC website is dedicated to promoting the notion of carbon criticality by encouraging and enhancing knowledge sharing and advancement within the built environment.

Paul Morrell, the new Chief Construction Advisor has now produced his interim report into Low Carbon Construction . CIC is encouraging members to comment on this report. As noted in this document the Government’s Low Carbon Transition Plan (5MB) provides a 40 year plan for the construction industry

Carbon criticality, the idea that action needs to be taken right now to reduce carbon emissions, particularly within the built environment sphere, is an idea which is steadily being taken up by Government and promoted at a national and international level. The active promotion of the low carbon economy is a key part of this thinking.

While the awareness of climate change as a major issue has been increasing for some years, the key event in the recognition that there must be a concerted action at a national and international level arose from the publication of the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change published in October 2006.

Within the built environment sphere, dealing with climate change goes hand in hand with a major drive towards sustainable living. The consensus within CIC is that the promotion of a low carbon environment is an excellent proxy for sustainability and the key to mitigating climate change.

Keith Clarke the chairman of CIC summarised the relationship between climate change and carbon in the presentation below.

"Climate Change Agreeing the Question" presentation to the CIC Awayday by  CIC Chairman Keith Clarke 23 on May 2008

CIC has lobbied Government on the importance of carbon reduction. A letter was written to the Prime Minister on 28 January 2008, signed by 27 members, Chairmen and Presidents. This letter and the reply can be accessed here:

Letter from CIC members to Prime Minister dated 28 January 2008
Reply from Prime Minister to Nick Raynsford dated 27 May 2008