"There is no going back - no matter what we do now, it's too late to avoid climate change and the poorest, the most vulnerable, those with the least security, are now certain to suffer."

SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH

Welcome to The Climate Conversation, a new Gleeds platform for sharing insight on our industry’s response to the global climate emergency.

I see the effects of climate change all around us, from extreme weather events to droughts and floods. Climate change continues to be a potentially catastrophic risk according to the most recent World Economic Forum Risk Report. Although worldwide lockdowns caused global emissions to fall by 6.4% during 2020, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted an increase of 5% in 2021.

Climate science has advanced dramatically in the last five years and the price of mitigation technologies has fallen greatly. But the threats to the environment and biodiversity continue to rise. We are therefore delighted to see the Peru Reconstruction Project featured at COP26 with the premiere of a new film, Reconstructing hope.

This film showcases how the UK Delivery Team (UKDT), a joint venture between Gleeds, Mace and Arup, is actively building climate resilience in Peru, following the devastating floods caused by El Niño in 2017. It’s an exceptional example of a government-to-government project helping vulnerable communities recover from and prepare for the impact of climate change.

In our first Climate Conversation we tell the story of our work in Peru as part of the UKDT team through the COP26 themes of mitigation, adaptation, finance and collaboration. Using video, commentary, and case studies we explore green financing, the power of collaboration, knowledge transfer and the importance of legacy in the journey from problem to long-term solution.

We recognise the need to change and innovate in construction and infrastructure development. Our industry stands at a pivotal moment; needing to play a critically important role in achieving more stringent carbon-cutting measures.

Everyone has a responsibility to fight for climate justice. At Gleeds, we’re shaping the future of the built environment with an ethical, sustainable, and socially conscious mindset. More about our work to deliver on this vision can be found in our latest ESG report.

This is a long-term conversation, and one whereby sharing our insight from impactful projects around the world will highlight opportunity for positive change. Going forward, our Climate Conversation series will focus on green technology, sustainable materials and the challenges of consumption and a growing global population.

We must ensure that COP26, one of the most important climate change summits for a generation, is not our last chance for change, but the next step in a global project that inspires action and protects our world.

I am part of the Gleeds team attending COP26 and I look forward to sharing my reflections and its implications for our industry in a webinar on 24 November. If you would like to join that conversation, click here.

Thank you for your time; I truly hope our work inspires and enables change.

Yours faithfully

RICHARD STEER

CHAIRMAN, GLEEDS