On 1 January 2016, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted by world leaders in September 2015, came into force. The 17 SDGs apply to all countries with the aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030 as part of a new sustainable development agenda. To achieve the SDGs, all aspects of society, from government to the private sector to the general public, will need to play their part.
The construction and property sector will have an essential role in delivering the SDGs and their associated targets, given the significant economic, environmental and social impacts and benefits associated with construction products, buildings and infrastructure throughout their lifecycles.
The UK government played an influential role in negotiating the SDGs and has made a commitment to delivering them. Raising awareness and encouraging engagement with the SDGs will increase the number of people and organisations able to contribute towards meeting them. However, successive Environmental Audit Committee annual reports on the UK’s implementation of the SDGs have raised concerns with the lack of work to promote the SDGs domestically. Consequently there is a need and opportunity for industry to promote the SDGs and initiatives that can contribute towards meeting them.
BREEAM is delighted to support the SDGs and will continue to evolve the BREEAM family of standards and tools to enable significant contributions towards meeting the SDGs. BREEAM has produced an infographic that demonstrates how and where the BREEAM family of standards and tools support each of the 17 SDGs.
Take a look at some of the most sustainable buildings in the world on the BREEAM Case Studies to see how they work in practice.