‘Landscape and Carbon’ is a vital new report on carbon reduction in the UK landscape sector by the Landscape Institute (LI) and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). A direct response to the UK’s target to reach net zero by 2050, the report sets out the climate action the sector is taking, and how landscape can provide solutions for reducing and sequestering carbon in development.
Landscape professionals can help other industries to deal with, capture and store carbon, whilst simultaneously delivering a range of integrated solutions in climate resilience, biodiversity, and public health.
The report is a call to action for the entire landscape sector, and wider industry, to work together and use its combined skill and expertise to reduce carbon in landscape schemes and works.
Key recommendations
Working together, the LI and BALI will build on work already being done by colleagues across the landscape sector to agree a carbon methodology, put standard data and practical tools in place, and help the sector to improve the level of awareness and skills needed.
Inviting stakeholders from across the landscape sector, and wider industry, to engage and collaborate in a series of working groups, the report sets out eight key recommendations for future action:
1. Agree a carbon assessment process
Agree a carbon assessment and management process for the UK
landscape sector, and refine the process as new techniques develop.
2. Use standard data and tools
Agree a standard for the collection and assessment of data to enable the
creation of a set of tools to calculate carbon outcomes.
3. Work with suppliers
Call on manufacturers, suppliers and assessors to provide Environmental
Product Declarations (EPDs) for all landscape products with fully specified
data.
4. Support landscape practitioners
Consider the needs of BALI and LI members, and all landscape
practitioners, particularly SMEs, and support their work to deliver net zero
projects.
5. Build understanding
Work closely with other UK built environment professionals and ensure
that the role and importance of the landscape sector in carbon reduction
is recognised.
6. Improve education and training
Work with HR, training and development professionals to identify all
necessary educational materials and build carbon into wider CPD
programmes.
7. Promote landscape solutions
Promote the carbon storage potential of landscapes to policy makers and
the wider public, and highlight the contribution which landscapes play in
addressing the climate emergency.
8. Create a cross-sector action plan
Create a sector-wide action plan to achieve net zero projects, with
timescales for delivery. Assign tasks to organisations.
How you can get involved
We are inviting stakeholders from across the sector to engage and collaborate in a series of working groups. If you would like to provide your skills and experience, then please fill out the form below.
