Decarbonisation programme director Robert Lyall says WSP’s commitment is now at a significant turning point.
“We’re delivering on this from a capability point of view. Our teams have established strong links between lower-carbon solutions and cost-efficient outcomes allowing us to demonstrate real value to clients.”
The carbon assessments completed by WSP to-date span client projects from 2020 through to 2024 and 2025.
It’s not just about tracking emissions, says Robert - it’s about designing smarter and using this knowledge to influence future projects early.
“In the water sector, for example, using Cured-in-Place (CIP) pipelining instead of full pipe replacement can cut carbon by up to 50 percent and save up to 41 percent in capital expenditure by extending the life of existing infrastructure. Reusing excavated backfill also offers major benefits - up to 30 percent less carbon and 25 percent savings - especially when paired with smart design and materials.”
WSP’s teams are embedding decarbonisation actions into design processes, with around 100 employees upskilled in carbon assessment techniques and more undertaking lower carbon ‘optioneering’ - that is, exploring and comparing different design and construction choices to identify those that reduce carbon emissions.
Robert notes that the market is also actively shifting toward reuse and refurbishment of existing assets, which can offer significant carbon savings when done well.
“We’re actively supporting clients to explore these options, aligning early-stage sustainability conversations with budget-conscious decision-making.”
Robert says WSP has its eyes on the next milestone, seeking to achieve 80 percent of the halving target by December 2027. He acknowledges there’s still a long way to go, but WSP is well-positioned.
“We are embracing the challenge and opportunities for change and remain focused on delivering on our pledge.
“We’re proud to not just be contributing to the transition to a low-carbon economy - but helping shape it with world-class low-carbon solutions for Aotearoa New Zealand's infrastructure.”
More information about WSP’s decarbonisation commitment can be found here.
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