17/06/2021
Businesses call on Government to put net zero and nature at the heart of the planning system.
Sika has joined more than 100 prominent business leaders in writing to the Prime Minister calling for the net zero transition, nature’s recovery, and climate resilience to be at the heart of the UK’s new planning system.The letter, coverage of which features in the Financial Times, has been co-ordinated by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) and the Aldersgate Group and welcomes the government’s commitments to addressing the housing crisis and reaching net zero by 2050.
To ensure it meets its housing targets and environmental commitments, it is vital that the Planning Bill drives a strategic approach to the net zero transition, ensuring that development which is resilient to the impacts of climate change, and that nature can be supported and restored.The signatories, which include Sika UK General Manager Tom Forsyth, therefore call on the Prime Minister to ensure the new Planning Bill directly aligns with the obligations under the Climate Change Act and plans to reverse nature’s decline in the Environment Bill. The letter highlights how planning can play a fundamental role in meeting the Government’s new homes target, achieving its environmental goals, and delivering the infrastructure that is needed for the transition to a decarbonised, climate-resilient economy.
In short the letter calls for:
- The new Planning Bill to align directly with, and support, the UK’s net zero target and ambitions for nature set out in the Environment Bill.
- Clarity on how land allocated for ‘growth’ will be compatible with achieving net zero, securing nature’s recovery and delivering development resilient to the impacts of climate change.
- Genuinely enhanced levels of protection in planning for designations in the Environment Bill intended to support nature’s recovery.
- Increased resourcing and skills support for local planning authorities, in order to support their ability to set local targets, and deliver across multiple objectives in their local areas.
"Climate change is something that could impact on all of our lives" Sarah Peake, Sustainability Manager, Sika UK
As participants in the UN Global Compact Sika has aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and we stand behind the objective to work towards climate neutrality by running the business in a responsible way, aiming to mitigate climate change and our other impacts. Working together with more than 100 prominent business leaders in writing to the Prime Minister, calling for the net zero transition, nature’s recovery, and climate resilience to be at the heart of the UK’s new planning system is essential for SDG 13: Climate Action and fully embodies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
