RICS and ICE have aligned their messaging on two key standards: RICS’ Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment and PAS 2080:2023 Carbon management in buildings and infrastructure. Used together, these standards provide a consistent and complementary framework for measuring and managing life cycle carbon emissions across buildings and infrastructure assets. The WLCA standard offers a comprehensive methodology for assessing and reporting all sources of carbon emissions, while PAS 2080 sets out processes and governance for carbon management. Their joint adoption streamlines workflows, improves stakeholder communication, and strengthens accountability. This integrated approach supports global decarbonisation initiatives and helps the sector meet climate action targets.

The European Commission shared its response to a consultation regarding an EU framework for calculating the whole life-cycle global warming potential (GWP) of new buildings, as required by Article 7(3) of the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The framework aims to standardise lifecycle GWP assessments, supporting EU decarbonisation objectives. RICS advocates for a clear, practical, and transparent approach, aligned with the RICS WLCA, and recommends that the act be consistent with international standards such as IPMS and ICMS to ensure comparability across borders.

The RICS Sustainability report 2025 analyses feedback from over 3,500 professionals in commercial real estate and construction worldwide, exploring the influence of the climate agenda on industry trends. The findings indicate that growth in demand for green buildings has slowed, with the sector remaining largely stagnant in its adoption of sustainable practices. Although the RICS Sustainable Building Index (SBI) is still positive, market momentum appears to be waning. The report emphasises the need to enhance professional skills and knowledge to advance sustainability. It also highlights the increasing importance of regulatory policies, government support, and collaborative partnerships in achieving ambitious climate objectives.

RICS has joined the UK Regulators Network (UKRN), a forum comprising 17 of the country’s most respected statutory and professional regulators. This collaboration presents a significant opportunity to shape the future of regulation through shared insight, innovation, and collective impact. As part of UKRN, RICS will engage in cross-sector collaboration on shared challenges and opportunities, such as enhancing public trust in regulation, supporting economic growth, and ensuring fairness across industries.