New guidance for highways authorities on emissions

ADEPT and Future Highways Research Group have issued new carbon reporting guidance for highways infrastructure and maintenance.

The move sees a standardisation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculations including Scope 3 emissions.

The Carbon Calculation & Accounting Standard (CCAS) Carbon Reporting Guidance for Local Highways Authorities (LHAs) (GHG Scopes 1, 2 & 3) is the result of an 18 month long project which drew in 19 commercial and supply chain partners from across the sector.

Guidance will support LHAs in establishing their carbon footprint and supports the goals for reducing carbon emissions set out in the Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon Budget. It provides comprehensive and straightforward advice enabling the detailed reporting of GHG emissions across highways’ construction and maintenance services.

It will enable consistent standards for carbon accounting, repeatable and transparent processes for assessments, how to reduce administrative overheads for accounting, and the assessment of strategic carbon reduction options based on accurate carbon baseline assessments.

Anthony Payne, President of ADEPT, said: “Achieving net zero will not happen without the actions of local authorities and the decarbonisation of highways and infrastructure is key.”

Simon Wilson, Director at Proving Services, said: “A lack of standardisation in the UK highways sector has led to highly fragmented approaches to carbon measurement, accounting and reduction. Adopting the guidance will encourage sector-wide standardisation, enabling carbon benchmarking and informed decision making for a low carbon future.”

Mitesh Solanki, Managing Director of Ringway, said: “This represents a vital step forward in joint environmental learning, and in the effective delivery of transparent carbon reduction through one model, avoiding the risks of ‘greenwashing’, whilst acknowledging the importance of commonality and consistency across UK’s local authorities.”

Mark Saunders, Client Director at Colas, said: “The publication of this standard and reporting guidance will propel our highways sector forward towards decarbonisation quicker than ever, with a solid foundation of data certainty.”