Net Zero & the Climate Emergency
Net Zero and the climate emergency emerged as one of five key themes in consultations towards the BEFS Manifesto for the Built Environment. The BEFS Manifesto provides a basis for organisational priorities in the 2026-31 term of the Scottish Parliament.
BEFS Members readily acknowledge that climate change is both a long-term future concern, and an immediate threat to our buildings and places. As a sector, the existing built and historic environment are uniquely positioned to provide solutions that bridge the gap between preserving our past and securing a sustainable future.
An Existential Threat
Our existing buildings are not yet prepared for the increased frequency of extreme weather events, including higher annual rainfall and rising summer temperatures. Disruptions such as flooding and storm damage have already caused significant harm to people, places, and local economies across Scotland. BEFS Members advocate for urgent, large-scale investment to build essential resilience into our built environment.
The most sustainable building is the one that already exists. Scotland’s historic and existing built environment holds immense embodied carbon. Making greater efforts toward maintenance and reuse helps greatly reduce carbon emissions: the construction industry is responsible for half of all emissions produced in Scotland. Prioritising the maintenance, retention, and reuse of existing buildings is a fundamental climate solution that avoids the massive carbon footprint of demolition and new construction.
BEFS advocates for a fabric-first approach as initial protection against the climate emergency. This strategy prioritises heat conservation, including repairs, insulation, and draught-proofing, before installing new climate technologies. Without ensuring a building is wind and watertight, new interventions like heat pumps may be detrimental to both the building’s structural health and the occupant’s wellbeing. A structurally sound building is essential to achieving energy reductions and meeting national fuel poverty aims.
A Circular Economy
A meaningful transition to an environmentally sustainable circular economy requires a shift in how building materials are sourced and utilised. BEFS Members support:
- Local Supply Chains: Reducing carbon miles by investing in indigenous, low-carbon materials like Scottish stone and slate.
- Green Skills: Addressing the skills gap to ensure a pipeline of specialists who can deliver local climate adaptation and nature recovery.
- Material Passports: Investigating international models to promote the circularity and reuse of construction materials.
Our Call to Action
The BEFS 2026 Manifesto calls for a holistic and joined-up approach to climate legislation that recognises the long-term nature of this challenge:
- Legislative Alignment: Ensuring that new laws, such as the Heat in Buildings Bill, are aligned across the policy landscape and prioritise fabric-first approaches.
- Cross-Party Commitment: Securing buy-in for climate targets that extends across multiple parliamentary cycles.
- Preventative Spend: Treating investment in building maintenance and green skills as essential preventative spend to meet Scotland’s target of becoming a Net Zero economy by 2045.
By capitalising on the rich potential of our built environment to help tackle climate change, Scotland can create a more resilient, sustainable, and high-quality communities for all its people.
To learn more about BEFS policy influencing work in Net Zero and the climate emergency, please contact the relevant BEFS Team Members.