PAS 2080 – a framework to decarbonise the built environment

A revision to the PAS 2080 carbon management standard has been launched, helping organisations across the built environment significantly reduce whole life carbon emissions. At present, the design and construction of buildings and infrastructure is responsible for the majority of the carbon footprint of developed countries. The revised and expanded standard now covers the entire built environment rather than infrastructure only.

PAS 2080 is an industry-wide enabler for decarbonisation. It provides a framework to manage carbon for organisations delivering projects and programmes across buildings and infrastructure. It provides a systematic way to integrate carbon into decision-making with everyone in the value chain at all work stages to tackle carbon reduction together. It’s absolutely central to the transition to a net zero economy by 2050.

Global sustainable development consultancy Arup was one of the co-authors of PAS 2080 at its inception in 2016 and on the latest revision in 2023. Its application is global and builds on the practical experience from contributors across the industry. It specifies requirements for the management of whole life carbon in buildings and infrastructure – in the provision, operation, use and end of life of new projects or programmes of work as well as the management or retrofit of existing assets and networks.

The 2023 updated PAS 2080 provides:

• An integrated approach to the built environment – widening the scope of PAS 2080:2016 beyond infrastructure to the built environment

• Ways to adopt systems thinking – integrating the transition to net zero into the standard and bringing the rigour and power of systems thinking throughout

• A whole-life carbon view – addressing the urgent need to retrofit existing stock and balance capital carbon investment with operational and user benefit

• Nature-based solutions - reflecting their value to both carbon reduction and climate change resilience

• Collaboration – PAS 2080 highlights the importance of working together across the value chain

Download the PAS 2080:2023 standard

Download the guidance document - offers a range of case studies where PAS 2080 principles have been applied

Note: PAS 2080 is published by the British Standards Institution (BSI), with sponsorship from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Green Construction Board (GCB).