Members of the Institution of Structural Engineers’ Futures Committee present a concise overview of the UK steel, concrete and timber industries’ carbon‑reduction route maps, highlighting what they mean for day‑to‑day structural design. Although each sector has set out credible pathways, a clear gap remains between national net‑zero targets and the rate of decarbonisation currently planned. The session focuses on how structural engineers can help close that gap through material efficiency, whole‑life carbon assessment and informed specification.
Key themes include reducing demand through lean design, accelerating low‑carbon manufacturing processes, increasing recycled and secondary material use, and supporting emerging carbon‑storing and circular‑economy approaches. The talk also reviews developing carbon‑rating and benchmarking tools that help engineers and clients identify best‑practice solutions.
The aim is to give practitioners a clear, cross‑material understanding of the actions that can meaningfully accelerate progress toward net zero.