CLIMATE CHANGE | ENGINEERS DECLARE As more and more organisations sign up to Building Services Engineers Declare, seven signatories explain the movements significance and meaning ENGINEERS RESPOND TO THE EMERGENCY M ore than 80 organisations have become signatories of the Building Services Engineers Climate and Biodiversity Declaration since it was established in 2019. This is an independent initiative for engineering consultants, specialists and academics to declare their intentions to do something about the climate and biodiversity emergency. There are 11 principles, including raising awareness of the climate and biodiversity emergency, sharing knowledge, collaborating to improve resource efficiency, and accelerating the shift towards low-energy design. Below, seven signatories explain why building services engineers need to take a lead in the movement, and describe what they are doing to tackle the climate crisis. A steering group has been established for the Building Services Engineers Declaration, to advance the principles, share ideas and explore best practice. Organisations can sign up at bit.ly/CJJan20CE Similar principles are contained in: Architects Declare (bit.ly/CJJan20CE1), Structural Engineers Declare (bit.ly/CJJan20CE2) and UK Contractors Declare (uk.buildersdeclare.com). For more details, visit www.constructiondeclares.com Ashley Bateson FCIBSE Building Services Engineers Declare steering group chair and partner at Hoare Lea Tackling climate change and protecting biodiversity are among the greatest challenges of our time. As population growth and industrialisation continue to depend on the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation, we see the impacts on both a regional and global scale. Climate change is leading to rising temperatures in the atmosphere and oceans, and increased frequency of flooding and heatwaves. Loss of green space, woods and forests is damaging biodiversity and accelerating species extinction. Reduction in green infrastructure further exacerbates global warming by eliminating the capacity of vegetation to absorb carbon dioxide, the predominant greenhouse gas. The construction sector has a significant role to play in mitigating these environmental changes, and architects, engineers and other construction professionals are becoming more outspoken about the need to act collectively to tackle these challenges. Andrew Leiper MCIBSE Principal engineer and net-zero carbon lead at Max Fordham At 38, I like to think Im still quite young; however, to the children school striking for the climate, Im sure my generation looks firmly part of the climate problem. The generation before me was talking about climate change; my generation has been talking about climate change; and, having young children myself, I know now is the time to act to end greenhouse gas emissions. At Max Fordham, our partners and employees recognise that we are in the midst of a climate and biodiversity emergency. We signed the declaration as a public demonstration of our commitment to be part of the solution. We believe we can help start the transition to net zero carbon today by shifting a design teams focus beyond minimising regulated energy consumption and towards minimising actual energy consumption in use, and by always investigating the feasibility of noncombustion-based heat sources, such as heat pumps. Even if youre not sure your organisation or client is taking active steps to lower their buildings carbon emissions, start the conversation about the climate and biodiversity emergency, net-zero carbon, and the future. These discussions can spark ideas and inspiration in design 22 January 2021 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Jan21 pp22-24 Building Services Declare.indd 22 18/12/2020 14:29