Reasonable Basis Methodology The Plan Measurement Training Tools & Tactics Reporting

Our commitment to decarbonise

In 2022, WSP committed to halving the carbon footprint of our designs and advice by 2030. This bold and ambitious commitment was the first of its kind in the industry.

Since our baseline year of 2020, we have made progress in reducing carbon, yet there remains complex and unique challenges for a business of our scale and diversity of projects. We don’t yet have all the answers, so we continue to explore solutions, tools, and methods that will bring us to our goal.

In 2024, WSP was proud to announce that we secured the globally recognised PAS 2080:2023 certification as a designer in Australia. By integrating carbon management into the project lifecycle, we help clients achieve their carbon reduction targets.

This page provides a comprehensive look at WSP’s commitment to decarbonisation in Australia, outlining current and future strategies, and offering real-time updates and transparent reports on our learnings.

Progress in Australia

GHG Assessors Trained Within Our Team

Team Members Certified on PAS 2080

Total Projects (In Progress & Completed)

99%

How we're delivering - the steps

Decarbonisation involves substantial changes in energy consumption, supply chains, and operational practices, which demand a systematic and integrated approach. A well-defined process ensures that all facets of our business are aligned towards the common objective of reducing carbon emissions. This includes assessing current carbon emissions, implementing energy-efficient technologies, optimising supply chains for sustainability, and establishing transparent reporting mechanisms.

Reasonable basis

In 2022, WSP Australia committed to halving the carbon footprint of our designs and advice by 2030. This commitment is grounded in a comprehensive evaluation of our environmental impact, demonstrating our dedication to minimising carbon output in both our business operations and projects. Our goal aligns with international sustainability objectives, underscoring our commitment to adopting a more environmentally responsible approach to our work. It is also based on the understanding of the impact that our and other commercial industries have in addressing the enormous problem of climate change. We understand our responsibility to decarbonise our business is a responsibility to the earth and all of those that inhabit it.

To learn more about the reasonable basis behind our Net Zero commitment, download our whitepaper here.

Download our decarbonisation whitepaper

Methodology overview

WSP Australia has committed to halving the carbon footprint associated with our designs and advice by 2030. The emissions reduction commitment is based on a 2020 baseline year, which is to be estimated by the Methodology for Measuring the Carbon Associated with Our Designs and Advice -Version 1.0 - September 2023, developed by WSP Australia.

Key aims of the methodology

A robust structure to track the goals of the decarbonisation commitment in a transparent, traceable, and repeatable manner from the first baseline through to 2030 and beyond
Standardised methods for quantification of GHG emissions from the designs and advice delivered to our clients
Consistent industry - specific emissions benchmarks to inform future choices in all industries
Sufficient data quality and quantity to facilitate the evaluation of trends across disciplines and sectors to inform where WSP AU needs to focus the development of decarbonisation tools, initiatives, resources, or training

Control and influence

As designers and advisers, we are not in control of all aspects of decision-making that could impact carbon.

Control:

We have control over adopting carbon design methodologies such as the application of the carbon reduction hierarchy
We can apply design optimisations and encourage carbon as a key outcome as part of a cross-discipline project team
We can set/nominate requirements to meet carbon reduction ambitions to suppliers and constructors
We can compare our design to a baseline

Influence:

We can engage early with suppliers and constructors to understand how carbon reduction opportunities can be addressed
Provide awareness and education to our stakeholders on methods or technologies to reduce carbon
Nominate carbon as a key outcome that will inform evaluation processes

Overview of methodology

WSP Australia delivers thousands of projects every year. To track our progress over subsequent years in the lead up to 2030, we need to measure a sample of representative projects where we have design responsibility or are providing advice where carbon emissions can be quantified. Project carbon influence will be systematically calculated based on 10% projects assessed per sector by total revenue, or a min of 5% by number.

DESIGN	Process of devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. WSP prepares drawings, design details, specifications, bills of quantity, design calculations for intended construction projects. The type of project could include new or major infrastructure/ build, or maintenance programs with capital expenditure.
ADVICE	Professional, personalised guidance from technical specialists. Chargeable consultancy services that do not involve ‘design’ but may be specifically associated with an asset or project which will be intended for construction or could influence the carbon missions of a project / asset.

Whole of life carbon assessments will generally be completed in alignment with PAS 2080:2023 Carbon Management in Buildings and Infrastructure. Where PAS does not provide adequate framework for certain sectors, other frameworks are being explored. To complete a GHG assessment on a selected project, the following minimum requirements must be met:

Assessors are appointed to analyse the project with domain knowledge and expertise in their field
Measurement tools are available for the business unit and project type - Including Carb0nise, One Click LCA, ISCA, WeeSeeIt (water tool)
Sufficient data is available to complete the GHG assessment for the project

Reporting outcomes

We recognise that measuring across projects and sectors, using different tools provides challenges of consistency. To ensure key reduction learnings are shared, we have developed a standard reporting suite:

Project reports - will be submitted to a database for each project measured
Business unit reports - analysing explicitly quantified projects undertaken by the business and scaling the results from the project reports to all projects active in the assessment period to get an emissions influence for each sector
Annual reporting and reconciliation - providing a summary of the performance against the baseline and sector targets, key wins, tactics and areas of focus for the next reporting cycle

The plan

Background

Around 20% of global carbon emissions relate to the construction of the built environment and a further 30% relate to the operation of buildings and infrastructure – making the engineering sector critical in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

According to Climateworks, around 70% of Australia’s emissions are associated with infrastructure projects. This percentage is set to increase significantly as the energy grid is decarbonised. Integrating climate resilience into the built environment alongside decarbonisation efforts, rather than treating it as a distinct issue is crucial and is top of mind for our teams. Solutions addressing climate change resilience can significantly impact the carbon footprint, especially if approached reactively and in isolation. This means that WSP has a vital role to play in reducing carbon emissions and preventing catastrophic climate change.

Where to from here?

Since these commitments were made, we have taken significant steps towards establishing our baseline, understanding the tools and resources that could be integrated into our workflows, implementing measurement on some key projects, and beginning training and knowledge sharing with our teams, both locally and internationally.

In 2025, we need to take the knowledge that we have gained and take bold action. To do this, we will need everyone to be on board, including our leaders, every member of our team, our clients, and our partners. This is an immense task, and each step we take reveals new hurdles. While the journey is challenging, it's guided by our strong commitment to sustainability and recognition of our role in creating a liveable future.

There is an opportunity for WSP to measure and reduce carbon on all projects - it’s likely that in the future the cost of carbon will sit alongside the budget and schedule. We can and should include measurement and low-carbon material options in all bids that impact carbon.

Five priorities to reach our commitment

01 - Proposition

In 2022 WSP committed to halving the carbon in our designs and advice by 2030. This proposition was made after extensive analysis, yet we still do not have all the answers. Our strategy is continually refined in line with new technologies, research, and progress to ensure that this is an evolution of learning and implementation that allows us to reach our goals.

02 - People

03 - Process

Developing a systems-based approach to measuring, managing, and reducing carbon in our designs and advice is critical to achieving our target.

We are already making significant progress in developing these processes, using PAS2080 frameworks and other relevant tools.

We continue to work with our teams and broader business units to develop and refine processes to decarbonise every stage of project lifecycle. For long-term success, robust processes will be implemented in our business-as-usual activities, with continual review and refinement.

04 - Projects

Both our clients and the communities we work with have a significant interest in and targets to reduce carbon emissions. WSP aims to develop consistent and high-quality designs and advice to mitigate climate risks and support adaptation to align with client commitments and emerging regulations.

In practice, this means finding opportunities to decarbonise throughout the project lifecycle and collaborating with our clients who are all in different phases of their decarbonisation journeys.

05 - Profession

At WSP, we strive to provide professional leadership generated through innovation and partnerships to accelerate low-carbon solutions, materials, regulation and industry guidance. Our experts are active participants and leaders with industry bodies and government panels. We also support and contribute to innovation and research opportunities.

To get to Net Zero, these and many other groups will have to come together to solve incredibly complex problems. We are committed to playing our part to add to our profession’s understanding of decarbonisation and allow us to move forward together.

Measurement

Measuring our progress is critical to allow for understanding and progress. Measurement data that we collect can be used to:

evaluate trends between projects, materials, and disciplines
identify the type of tools, resources and training required to meet the 2030 targets
assist engineers in understanding the effectiveness of their designs in terms of carbon, in comparison to baseline practices and the reductions which need to be achieved annually

The first step in measurement is baselining our projects to establish where we are starting from. Our team chose 2020 as the baseline to mirror the work already underway by our WSP UK colleagues.

The Baseline Working Group has produced a comprehensive Baseline Methodology, which is being used as a guideline for Baseline assessments. We have made progress and are overcoming the challenges of data availability for the 2020 baseline year.

In 2025, we will continue to measure carbon on live projects, benchmarking our progress on the commitment.

Training

Our approach to decarbonisation emphasises knowledge sharing, education, and practical solutions. We recognise that we don't have all the answers, and there is still much to learn. However, we are committed to equipping our teams with the tools and expertise needed to navigate the path to Net Zero emissions.

Online learning

A key pillar of our training strategy is providing our teams with access to online courses through Adobe's Reach learning platform.

These courses offer a deep dive into climate change and decarbonisation, fostering a fundamental scientific understanding of these concepts and exploring innovative solutions.

This knowledge is foundational in preparing our teams to address the challenge effectively.

PAS 2080

PAS 2080: 2023, the world’s first specification for carbon management in infrastructure, requires practitioners to calculate a project’s whole-life carbon baseline and set targets for carbon reduction.

This training course, tutored by award-winning industry leaders, from ICE in the UK, provides practical guidance on applying PAS 2080 to infrastructure projects, with the combined aims of reducing carbon, reducing cost and adding value.

WSP is proud to have secured the globally recognised PAS 2080:2023 certification as a designer in Australia. As an early adopter of PAS 2080 in Australia, we are well placed to offer decarbonisation solutions for our clients and communities.

Expertise sharing

We are fortunate to have leading experts in decarbonisation and related fields within our team.

These experts play a pivotal role in sharing their knowledge through learning sessions, industry panels, and events. This transparent knowledge sharing is not limited to internal teams but extends to diverse global teams dedicated to localised Net Zero targets.

Practice area networks are set up for various fields, promoting insights and expertise exchange and strengthening our collective efforts.

Tools and tactics

Digital tools are indispensable in the global push for decarbonisation. Ranging from data analytics to energy management systems, these tools enable our teams to monitor and reduce carbon emissions effectively. Real-time insights aid in identifying areas for improvement, while collaboration and cloud-based platforms optimise energy processes. In this transition to a low-carbon future, digital tools not only enhance operational efficiency but also foster informed decision-making, playing a crucial role in creating a sustainable business landscape.

CarbOnise

CarbOnise, a tool developed by WSP, seamlessly integrates with Revit software, allowing us to assess and report the Embodied Carbon of structures at different design stages.

This tool produces 3D intensity maps for Embodied Carbon per volume of material, offering detailed breakdowns for various structural elements like beams, columns, and floors. Additionally, CarbOnise calculates the carbon savings achieved using lower-carbon materials, providing valuable insights during the design process.

One Click LCA

The One Click LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) calculates the carbon footprint of projects throughout their lifecycle—from material sourcing to construction and operation. It intergrates with different schemas, facilitating benchmarking against industry standards (IS Rating Scheme and PAS 2080:2023), and tracking decarbonisation performance over time.

One Click LCA informs future project planning, fostering strategies prioritising decarbonisation. It engages stakeholders by offering transparent environmental impact data and ensures compliance with environmental regulations through accurate carbon impact reporting.

EC3 Database

WSP Australia utilises the Embodied Carbon Calculator for Construction (EC3) platform to determine embodied carbon rates for carbon footprint estimates.

EC3 sources its carbon rates from a vast database of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), making it one of the largest open-source databases for the Construction Industry. Particularly valuable for Australia, EC3 contains a significant number of Australian EPDs.

Reporting

Transparent reporting is crucial for our decarbonisation efforts. This openness facilitates benchmarking, nurtures a culture of continuous enhancement, and ensures easy access to relevant information.

Below is an index of WSP’s ESG and decarbonisation reporting in recent years. This will be continuously updated as new information becomes available.

2023

WSP 2023 Global ESG Report

2022

Knowledge sharing

At WSP, we engage in transparent knowledge sharing in many ways. We regularly publish insights on our website and social media, a selection of which can be found at the bottom of this page.

We also partner with external organisations, where our experts lead the conversation – presenting at events, contributing to discussions, and learning from other industry experts.

WSP is proud to be both a Founding Partner and Financial Supporter of the Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance (MECLA).

Driving reductions in embodied carbon in the building and construction industry, our people bring their expertise to the ‘do-tanks’ working groups, industry meetings and events.

Who we partner with to decarbonise

Refining and improving

Decarbonising our designs and advice is a complex process, and for our scientists and engineers, it often feels like each step forward unveils new and unforeseen challenges. These challenges require us to remain open to change and able to continuously refine our processes in line with new science, learnings from our global network, and the experiences and findings of our teams.

Forward-looking statements

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this page is not based on historical or current facts and may constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) under Canadian securities laws. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and may include estimates, plans, strategic ambitions, objectives, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance, outlook, or other statements that are not statements of fact, and reflect the expectations of management of the Corporation regarding, without limitation, its long-term sustainability ambitions and targets which include, without limitation, its objectives concerning measuring and disclosing its sustainability performance (including with respect to the objectives and targets described in its 2025-2027 Global Strategic Action Plan and its Biodiversity Statement) and reducing its energy consumption and GHG emissions in accordance with established scope 1, 2 and 3 reduction targets.

Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from the expectations expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements and that the business outlook, objectives, plans and strategic priorities may not be achieved. Forward-looking statements contained in this page for periods beyond 2025 involve longer-term assumptions and estimates than forward-looking statements for 2025 and are consequently subject to greater uncertainty, including assumptions about our ability to develop and implement various corporate and business initiatives, including new procedures, policies and targets to decarbonize our operations and supply chain and reduce our energy consumption; the state of the global economy and the economies of the regions in which the Corporation operates; and sufficiency of internal and external resources, as well as those described in the “Forward-Looking Statements” section of our latest Global Sustainability Report.

In evaluating these forward-looking statements, readers should specifically consider various risk factors, which, if realized, could cause WSP’s actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, but are not limited to, the rising complexity of the geopolitical landscape and macro-economic developments; the failure to maintain our competitive positioning in rapidly changing competitive market; the failure to effectively adopt, integrate, and leverage existing and emerging technologies in our operations; the failure to implement sufficient corporate and business initiatives; difficulty in accurately measuring, evaluating and disclosing our sustainability performance; failure to accurately estimate the sustainability benefits of our project work; negative stakeholder perception or reaction to our sustainability performance or initiatives, as well as other risks detailed in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent annual management’s discussion and analysis, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and which section is incorporated herein by reference into this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this page are made as of the 28 November 2024 and WSP does not assume any obligation to publicly update or to revise any forward-looking statements made in this page or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise except as required under Canadian securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this page are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Our commitment to decarbonise

Progress in Australia

How we're delivering - the steps

Reasonable basis

Methodology overview

Key aims of the methodology

Control and influence

Overview of methodology

Reporting outcomes

The plan

Background

Where to from here?

Five priorities to reach our commitment

01 - Proposition

02 - People

03 - Process

04 - Projects

05 - Profession

Measurement

Training

Online learning

PAS 2080

Expertise sharing

Tools and tactics

CarbOnise

One Click LCA

EC3 Database

Reporting

2023

2023

2022

2022

Knowledge sharing

Who we partner with to decarbonise

Refining and improving

Insights

A practical framework for assessing low-emissions post-closure land uses

Tackling the two top challenges in major project delivery

Learning from Country for a water-resilient future

Firm foundations for floating offshore wind success

Cultivating Inclusive and Green Transport

Carb0nise – a Digital tool to support carbon analysis in design

How the 2032 Olympics can connect to Country

Geophysical technologies provide new solutions for safer tailings dams

Removing level crossings for a safer and more resilient rail network in Queensland

Forward-looking statements

Forward-looking statements