Sean Keyes, CEO, Sutcliffe:

“The seventh carbon budget exemplifies the urgent need for decisive action to meet the UK’s net zero targets. Achieving carbon-neutral certification reflects our commitment to sustainability across the engineering sector, and aligns with the government’s national ambition which is outlined in this recent report. As a business, we’ve taken proactive steps to reduce our impact on the environment such as transitioning to more renewable energy sources and implementing low-carbon design principles into our projects. This highlights the civil engineering industry’s power to drive real change. That said, with the estimated cost of achieving net zero averaging 0.2% of UK GDP per year – with the majority of this investment coming from the private sector, it’s clear that businesses continue to shoulder the lion’s share of the responsibility. However, the report is clear: reducing emissions must remain the priority. The government, businesses, and communities must work together to accelerate decarbonisation, ensuring every project supports a more sustainable future.”