The Climate Literacy of our team is the critical factor in empowering every decision we make as architects as we continue to rise to the twin crises of the destruction of nature and climate change. This requires a continuous and interrogative attitude to addressing this challenge, and manifests at both a practice research level, as it does through the practical application of designing buildings. The 8 categories of the RIBA 2030 Sustainable Outcomes form a useful benchmark for architects and designers, providing guidance on targeting, designing and evaluating sustainable outcomes for buildings of all scales.

Category 1: #EMBODIEDCARBON

Embodied Carbon is defined as the ‘carbon emissions associated with energy consumption (embodied energy) and chemical processes during the extraction, manufacture, transportation, assembly, replacement and deconstruction of construction materials or products.'

This means that every time we build, we use energy, which in turn exacerbates the Climate Emergency; and the consequential effect is substantial. Energy consumed during the construction process forms a major part of our impact as an industry, accounting for 75% of a building's impact over its lifetime.

Every cubic meter of concrete, brick, aluminium, or glass has an effect on our planet and lives, and every design decision represents an opportunity for positive outcomes. As part of our Environmental Commitments, the Morris+Company methodology fully engages Clients, Local Authorities, Design Teams, and Contractors to advocate, evaluate, and design buildings that minimise the Embodied Carbon of all our projects.

We fully support the proposed introduction of ‘Part Z’ to the UK building regulations which calls on the UK government to mandate the assessment and reporting of embodied carbon on every building project.