Can you talk a little bit more about PAS 2080:2023 and the role this has played in accelerating decarbonisation in the UK and globally?

PAS 2080:2023 has played a vital role in moving the infrastructure industry from setting carbon ambitions to delivering real action. It offers a clear, structured framework for managing carbon across the full lifecycle of projects, helping organisations embed low-carbon thinking into everyday decisions. 

One of the key points of PAS 2080:2023 is around systems thinking and considering how different factors influence one another on infrastructure projects. This involves incorporating the carbon implications of climate adaptation, nature-based solutions and biodiversity net gain, among other things. It’s about finding the right balance between multiple aspects to ensure sustainability is approached in an integrated, holistic way to optimise whole-life carbon management on projects. 

Its impact has been significantly amplified through mandates from major clients like the Department for Transport (DfT). This has enforced alignment with PAS 2080:2023 across bodies such as National Highways, East West Rail and Network Rail – with this cascaded through their extensive supply chains. 

What’s especially encouraging is how this approach is gaining traction internationally. I’ve worked with government bodies from Sweden and Australia, supporting them on PAS 2080:2023. This has enabled them to identify gaps in their existing policies and frameworks to enhance decarbonisation on infrastructure projects. This is a clear sign that the industry is maturing, moving from isolated efforts to a more joined-up, systems-based approach at an international scale. 

Additionally, WSP's operations in the UK, Ireland and Australia have all achieved PAS 2080:2023 certification, demonstrating leadership in applying this standard to drive decarbonisation globally. This certification helps us work more efficiently with our supply chain, align with client expectations and ultimately deliver infrastructure that’s not only lower carbon but also more resilient and future-ready.

How is data, such as from the Built Environment Carbon Database, transforming the design and delivery of low-carbon projects?

Data is one of the most powerful tools we have for driving low-carbon design. The Built Environment Carbon Database is helping us move from assumptions to evidence, giving project teams access to consistent, transparent carbon data. That means stakeholders can benchmark more effectively, identify hotspots and make better-informed decisions earlier in the process. 

It also builds trust. When clients, designers and contractors are all working from the same data foundation, it becomes much easier to collaborate. We can have more honest conversations about trade-offs and opportunities, and that leads to better outcomes for everyone.

How important is cross-sector collaboration, and what models of partnership are proving most effective?

Decarbonisation is a systems challenge; it can’t be solved in silos. The most effective partnerships bring together clients, designers, contractors and suppliers around shared carbon goals. When everyone is aligned and empowered, the outcomes are far greater than any one organisation could achieve alone. 

A great example is the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS), which is currently being piloted. I sit on its Governance Board, and what makes it so impactful is the breadth of collaboration. It brings together a wide range of built environment stakeholders, including the ICE, IStructE, RICS, Royal Institute of British Architects and other key industry bodies, to align behind a shared vision. 

This collaboration has resulted in a robust, practical standard that clearly defines what a Net Zero Carbon-Aligned Building is. It sets a new baseline for what good Net Zero targets look like across sectors. With support, encouragement and engagement, I hope to see the UKNZCBS approach being extrapolated to the entire built environment, using the PAS 2080 methodology to join the dots between national carbon targets and regional carbon budgets. This will give us a fighting chance of hitting Net Zero on time.

A truly Net Zero built environment is one where carbon is considered at every stage, from planning and design to operation and end-of-life.

Embedding whole-life carbon thinking from the early stages of infrastructure projects is key to accelerating Net Zero outcomes. We hope you enjoyed reading Lewis’ insights. Keep an eye out for our next article, where you'll hear from another WSP expert on the innovations and developments shaping the future of the built environment.