Net zero routemap:

delivering for people, places and planet

Addressing the climate crisis is now a fundamental responsibility for those of us in the built environment. We must play our part by providing solutions through innovative design, material choices – and clear action to amend working practices to deliver change.

The Buro Happold routemap to net zero carbon formalises existing processes and introduces new ones, demonstrating our commitment to the positive impact we can have on environments around us. It reflects our founding values, reconfirms the importance of our involvement in such critical work and demonstrates how we will continue to deliver for people, places and planet.

There is an international consensus that the world needs to decarbonise, and quickly. Investors, developers and occupiers within the built environment are now driving the need for change – and Buro Happold is uniquely placed to deliver.

This net zero routemap lays out a framework that will support two of our core climate targets. By 2030 our goal is to design all new build projects to be net zero carbon in operation and to reduce the embodied carbon intensity of all new buildings, major retrofits and infrastructure projects by 50% from a 2020 baseline.

Download our routemap

Click to explore our interactive routemap

OPERATIONS

Knowledge

Set relevant sustainability objectives for all staff and share knowledge across the practice through multiple channels

Governance

Ensure carbon management underpins all our work and track progress against our plan. Establish new commitment committee to review and advise our CEO on climate opportunities and risks of major projects.

Communications

Communicate openly and transparently through external communications such as the Global Sustainability Report and internal communications and dashboards.

See strategy

DESIGN

Infrastructure

Support the clean energy transition through strategic advice, infrastructure design and commercial structuring, prioritising solutions that best support system-wide decarbonisation.

Buildings

Target net zero for every building project by identifying appropriate* targets, presenting a net zero concept design option, and measuring carbon performance.

Data

Collect data on energy use intensity and embodied carbon intensity at each stage of the project and enter into the building performance dashboard.

See strategy

ADVISORY

Sectors

Understand and/or contribute to net zero roadmaps in each sector and region we operate in.

Cities and regions

Understand and/or contribute to net zero climate policy and strategy in each of the cities and regions we operate in.

Clients

Provide strategic net zero advice across client portfolios.

See strategy

BENEFITS

Strategic insights

Helping our clients to set and achieve their goals

New opportunities and lower risk

Enabling our clients to access the new low carbon economy

Lower whole life carbon

Doing the right thing, whilst reducing consumption and enhancing energy efficiency at the same time!

Enhanced asset value

Meeting future expectations in a low carbon economy

Stronger brand

Helping our clients to differentiate themselves from their peers

With the launch of our net zero routemap, Buro Happold will operate within a structure that actively focuses on how we can meet the necessary requirements of net zero – and how we can support our clients in doing the same. Many clients are already unlocking financial and wider benefits from working in an environment that centres net zero and sustainability. The implementation of this routemap will support more clients in doing the same.

The routemap is split into three areas: advisory, design and operations. It demonstrates not only that we know where we need to go, but precisely how this will be achieved. We have clear targets to hit, and our routemap will support us in delivering them.

You can learn more about our strategy for achieving our actions below.

Routemap actions
Strategy for meeting advisory actions
Strategy for meeting design actions
Strategy for meeting operations actions
Full details (PDF)

Net zero routemap action areas

Sectors

Understand and/or contribute to net zero roadmaps in each sector and region we operate in.

Cities and regions

Understand and/or contribute to net zero climate policy and strategy in each of the cities and regions we operate in.

Clients

Provide strategic net zero advice across client portfolios.

Infrastructure

Support the clean energy transition through strategic advice, infrastructure design and commercial structuring, prioritising solutions that best support system-wide decarbonisation.

Buildings

Target net zero for every building project by identifying appropriate* targets, presenting a net zero concept design option, and measuring carbon performance.

Data

Collect data on energy use intensity and embodied carbon intensity at each stage of the project and enter into the building performance dashboard.

Knowledge

Set relevant sustainability objectives for all staff and share knowledge across the practice through multiple channels.

Governance

Ensure carbon management underpins all our work and track progress against our plan. Establish new commitment committee to review and advise our CEO on climate opportunities and risks of major projects.

Communications

Communicate openly and transparently through external communications such as the Global Sustainability Report and internal communications and dashboards.

*Appropriate project-specific targets are project-level targets that are deemed to meet the Buro Happold goals and a 1.5°C aligned pathway to net zero.

Strategy for meeting our advisory actions

Actions

Understand and/or contribute to net zero roadmaps in each sector we operate in.

Impact KPI

Demonstrable industry thought leadership or acknowledged contribution in key sectors in each region.

Financial KPI

Advisory revenue (or investment) in industry initiatives, standards, and platforms.

Strategy

Support industry and civil society built environment decarbonisation initiatives.

Contribute to development and implementation of voluntary standards and net zero verification.

Share data and insights through industry platforms.

Actions

Understand and/or contribute to net zero climate policy and strategy in each of the cities and regions we operate.

Impact KPI

Demonstrable city-region-based thought leadership or acknowledged contribution in cities/ regions we operate in.

Financial KPI

Advisory revenue connected to city/region net zero strategies and/or policy research and recommendations.

Strategy

Deliver city and region-scale net zero strategies.

Deliver policy research and recommendations that support net zero.

Provide expertise and evidence base in support of initiatives that move legislation towards net zero.

Actions

Provide strategic net zero advice across client portfolios.

Impact KPI

Strategic advisory and/or engagement at portfolio level for clients.

Financial KPI

Advisory revenue in line with Buro Happold’s growth plan.

Strategy

Work with and for clients and collaborators to deliver net zero corporate and portfolio strategies.

Articulate benefit case of pursuing validated science-based targets to clients and collaborators.

Regularly engage with clients and collaborators to share knowledge, data, and insights that support net zero.

Strategy for meeting our design actions

Actions

Support the clean energy transition through strategic advice, infrastructure design and commercial structuring, prioritizing solutions that best support system-wide decarbonisation.

Impact KPI

Value of net zero infrastructure / systems advised.

Financial KPI

Advisory and design revenue and value of infrastructure assets supported.

Strategy

Deliver renewable energy infrastructure design.

Advise clients on generating and procuring renewable energy.

Embed net zero and carbon measurement and reduction principles into infrastructure and urban realm design, prioritising nature-based solutions.

Actions

Target net zero for every building project by identifying appropriate* targets, presenting a net zero concept design option, and measuring carbon performance.

Impact KPI

% portfolio achieving net zero targeted, in design, enabled, and verified.

Financial KPI

Design revenue associate with each level of of net zero performance.

Strategy

Identify and champion appropriate* projectspecific targets for all projects.

When presenting the client with concept design options, include at least one concept design that meets appropriate* project-specific targets.

Assess whole life carbon emissions associated with our scope (or appointed disciplines) for all building projects at every design stage, and articulate the benefits of offsetting residual carbon.

Actions

Collect data on energy use intensity and embodied carbon intensity at each stage of the project and enter into the building performance dashboard.

Impact KPI

% data coverage and calculation of average energy use intensity (EUI)/ embodied carbon intensity reduction by typology and region compared with 2020 baseline.

Financial KPI

Advisory revenue connected with data management, insights, and benchmarking.

Strategy

Develop and maintain a palette of EUI and embodied carbon benchmarks and targets for key sectors in every region.

Develop methodology for identifying appropriate* project-specific targets for all projects.

Maintain records of past performance and future strategy by sector, client, region, typology etc to inform decision-making.

*Appropriate project-specific targets are project-level targets that are deemed to meet the Buro Happold goals and a 1.5°C aligned pathway to net zero.

Strategy for meeting our operations actions

Actions

Set relevant sustainability objectives for all staff and share knowledge across the practice through multiple channels.

Impact KPI

% staff sustainability objectives set and met each year.

Strategy

Develop net zero checklists and basis of design for each discipline to cover every project stage and both climate change mitigation and resilience.

Carry out leading edge research to maintain our relevance to clients such as challenging existing practices to drive low-carbon solutions, and delivering social value and net zero together and the benefit cases for doing so.

Embed carbon and sustainability into all our HR and L&D processes.

Actions

Ensure carbon management underpins all our work and track progress against our plan. Establish new commitment committee to review and advise our CEO on climate opportunities and risks of major projects.

Impact KPI

Annual review of the Buro Happold net zero routemap activities completed. Input invited from clients and collaborators and recommendations made to our CEO for any strategic changes.

Strategy

Create, mandate, and suitably resource a steering group to oversee implementation of the Buro Happold net zero routemap.

Include representation from across the practice in the commitment committee and maintain a mechanism for listening to and addressing feedback from across the practice relating to the Buro Happold net zero routemap.

Embed carbon considerations in business processes including business planning, commercial and legal processes, and decision-making protocols.

Actions

Communicate openly and transparently through external communications such as the Global Sustainability Report and internal communications and dashboards.

Impact KPI

Annual reporting against each Buro Happold net zero routemap relevant KPIs through the Global Sustainability Report and regional interdisciplinary net zero reviews.

Strategy

Develop and adhere to transparent and honest communication policies and procedures.

Embed carbon management into consistent and regular communications to internal and external audiences including marketing and business development.

Annual disclosure and reporting of performance, including on industry platforms as appropriate.

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View our latest sustainability report