{"id":524961,"date":"2025-07-16T12:45:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T11:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=524961"},"modified":"2025-07-16T12:32:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T11:32:04","slug":"public-sector-to-miss-decarbonisation-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/government\/public-sector-to-miss-decarbonisation-targets-16-07-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Public sector to miss decarbonisation targets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just one in four public sector stakeholders now think the government\u2019s target to achieve an 81 per cent reduction in emissions within the next 10 years is achievable, according to a new report.<\/p>\n

A nationwide survey by the public sector procurement specialist Pagabo also found 37 per cent of local authorities and public sector body representatives feel a more realistic timescale is needed.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, 28 per cent of respondents to the survey didn\u2019t believe the target is achievable at all, and 10 per cent were undecided.<\/p>\n

Launched in 2020, the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS)\u00a0channels funding for public sector organisations to lower their carbon emissions<\/a> and save on energy costs by installing low-carbon heating and energy-efficiency measures in their buildings.<\/p>\n

So far, the scheme has distributed over \u00a33.5bn in grants.<\/p>\n

However the survey, which is the basis for Pagabo\u2019s white paper Driving Decarbonisation in the Public Sector<\/em>, found 80 per cent of respondents felt a lack of funding was \u201cthe single biggest challenge to decarbonisation overall\u201d.<\/p>\n

And of respondents who said their organisation had applied for decarbonisation funding in the past, 69 per cent reported encountering challenges during the application process.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite those challenges, 80 per cent of people are still planning on seeking further funding to support with their decarbonisation projects, showing the need is still high,\u201d said Tom Retallick, senior decarbonisation framework manager at Pagabo.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith 84 per cent of our respondents detailing that government decisions have a medium or high impact on their organisation\u2019s approach to decarbonisation, it\u2019s clear that the public sector needs support.”<\/p>\n

He said there is a “clear lack of knowledge, confidence and planning” which is preventing a unified approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that some of the complexity associated with decarbonisation is accurate, while much of it is assumed. However, from local authorities and NHS trusts to educational institutions and central government bodies, the responsibility to transform estates into low-carbon, energy-efficient assets is both urgent and profound,\u201d Retallick added.<\/p>\n

Karen Carter, director of national delivery at Pagabo, noted that not only was action was needed immediately, but that the white paper essentially emphasised \u201cthe need for expert contractors and consultants to engage early\u201d.<\/p>\n

According to the government, the PSDS is expected to save the public sector an estimated \u00a3650m per year on average by 2037.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Cambridge University and the Crown Estate today (16 July) announced a partnership to develop innovative and sustainable technologies in the built environment that should, in part, help the government achieve its net-zero targets.<\/p>\n

Cambridge University\u2019s Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and the Crown Estate will work together to fast-track the adoption of sustainable and decarbonising innovations through CISL new \u201cLiving Lab\u201d.<\/p>\n

This will bring together businesses, innovators, researchers, and policymakers to collaborate, test, and scale real-world solutions for a greener built environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis collaboration will help industry leaders, innovators, and academics pilot and scale sustainable solutions that can deliver real commercial, social, and environmental value,\u201d said James Cole, chief innovation officer at CISL.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to show that sustainability in the built environment is not just the right thing to do but also makes strong business sense.”<\/p>\n

The Living Lab, which is now open to start-ups, academics and companies, comes at a time when sustainable buildings and decarbonising refits represent a $1.8tn global market opportunity by 2030, within which the UK\u2019s green building sector is expected to more than double by 2033.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just one in four public sector stakeholders now think the government\u2019s target to achieve an 81 per cent reduction in emissions within the next 10 years is achievable, according to a new report. A nationwide survey by the public sector procurement specialist Pagabo also found 37 per cent of local authorities and public sector body …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":155754,"featured_media":450876,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[565,556],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-524961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government","category-sustainability"],"yoast_head":"\nPublic sector to miss decarbonisation targets | Construction News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Just one in four public sector stakeholders now think the government\u2019s target to achieve an 81 per cent reduction in emissions within the next 10 years is\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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