RICS joins Paris efforts to cut global C02 emissions

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) will join worldwide efforts to cut carbon dioxide (C02) emissions at the UN climate conference to be held in Paris next week.

As a global professional body working in the public interest, RICS will work together with representatives from government, industry and civil society to reach agreement on a new climate deal aimed at curbing the damaging effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate. The commitments made in Paris could have far-reaching repercussions for the built environment.

Buildings are some of the biggest emitters of CO2, accounting for one-third of global greenhouse gasses. Commercial and residential buildings also account for 40% of the world’s energy consumption. RICS is working with its members in the land, real estate and construction sectors to find solutions across the property lifecycle to support more sustainable business practices.

‘The property sector has a huge influence on the global financial system. We want to leverage this influence to support the efforts of governments as they negotiate a new climate deal in Paris,’ said Sean Tompkins, CEO of RICS. ‘RICS is a natural partner for the United Nations. We have worked with the UN before on creating a framework for businesses to act more responsibly in relation to their real estate assets. And we want to build on that relationship by supporting governments as they make adaption and mitigation commitments to curb the effects of climate change,’ he added.

RICS will also contribute to shaping the global agenda at the Paris summit by participating in the UN Environmental Programme’s (UNEP) first-ever Buildings Day on 3 December

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11, will be held in Paris from November 30 to December 11