India Burgess and Julian Siravo
The Autonomy Institute
2024
This report titled "Laying the Groundwork: Mapping and implementing accountability tactics for transforming the built environment in Europe" was published in 2024 by the Autonomy Institute in collaboration with the Laudes Foundation. Authored by India Burgess and Julian Siravo, the report addresses the pressing issues of climate change and social inequality by exploring accountability tactics applicable to the built environment sector across Europe. š Key Findings and Mechanisms of Accountability The report identifies three primary mechanisms of accountability vital for the transformation of the built environment: Transparency & Disclosure, Reputation & Self-Governance, and Sanctions & Incentives. It maps out 32 specific accountability tactics across these mechanisms, evaluating their potential transferability and effectiveness within the sector. šļø Recommended Tactics Among the key tactics recommended for prioritization are: - Implementing legislation on embodied carbon. - Enhancing transparency regarding the use of raw materials. - Updating the membership requirements for professional bodies. - Establishing stricter guidelines for public procurement. - Developing tools to hold companies accountable to their climate and social commitments. - Increasing pressure on capital providers concerning Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements. š Unique Characteristics of the Built Environment Sector The report highlights the unique characteristics of the built environment sector, which influence accountability efforts. These include the dominance of the public sector as a customer, a business-to-business focus, extended project lifecycles, high stakes leading to risk aversion, and dependency on material and market fluctuations. š Detailed Analysis and Case Studies A detailed analysis is provided on how each accountability mechanism can be applied in the built environment. This includes case studies and hypothetical scenarios, along with recommendations for effective implementation. The authors stress that while many tactics are already in use to some extent, additional resources and better coordination are necessary to enhance their impact across Europe. š Role of Regulation and Voluntary Initiatives The report underscores the importance of regulation as a key driver for industry change, while also recognizing the effectiveness of voluntary initiatives as precursors or complements to regulatory approaches. It aims to guide organizations in increasing accountability and promoting sustainable transformation in the European built environment sector, offering a comprehensive mapping of tactics and their potential effectiveness.
The Autonomy Institute
This report titled "Laying the Groundwork: Mapping and implementing accountability tactics for transforming the built environment in Europe" was published in 2024 by the Autonomy Institute in collaboration with Laudes Foundation. The authors are India Burgess and Julian Siravo.
Key findings and context:
- The report examines how accountability tactics used to address climate change and social inequality in other industries can be applied to the built environment sector in Europe.
- It identifies three main mechanisms of accountability:
- Transparency & disclosure
- Reputation & self-governance
- Sanctions & incentives
- The report maps out 32 specific accountability tactics across these three mechanisms and analyzes their potential transferability and impact in the built environment sector.
- Key tactics recommended for prioritization in the built environment include:
- Implementing embodied carbon legislation
- Increasing transparency around raw material use
- Updating membership requirements for professional bodies
- Providing stricter public procurement guidelines
- Creating tools to hold companies accountable to climate/social commitments
- Putting more pressure on capital providers regarding ESG requirements
- The built environment sector has unique characteristics that affect accountability efforts, including:
- Dominance of public sector as a customer
- Business-to-business focused dynamics
- Extended project lifecycles
- High stakes leading to risk aversion
- Dependency on material/market fluctuations
- The report provides detailed analysis of how each accountability mechanism could be applied in the built environment, including case studies, hypothetical scenarios, and recommendations.
- It emphasizes that while many tactics are already implemented to some degree, additional resources and coordination could help expand their scope and impact across Europe.
- The authors highlight the importance of tailoring transparency tools to capital providers, as they play a key role in shaping business practices in this sector.
- Regulation remains a crucial mechanism for driving industry change, but voluntary initiatives can also be effective precursors or complements to regulatory approaches.
The report aims to provide guidance for organizations working to increase accountability and drive sustainable transformation in the European built environment sector. It offers a comprehensive mapping of tactics and analysis of their potential effectiveness in this specific industry context.