India Burgess, Julian Siravo
The Autonomy Institute
2024
🌍 Context and Purpose The 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, an organization focused on promoting sustainable and autonomous practices. It was created in collaboration with the Laudes Foundation, which supports systemic change for a sustainable economy. The authors, India Burgess and Julian Siravo, aim to address pressing issues related to climate change and social inequality through innovative accountability strategies in the built environment sector. ⚙️ Key Findings The report investigates the application of accountability tactics commonly used in other industries to the built environment in Europe. It identifies three primary mechanisms of accountability: Transparency & Disclosure, Reputation & Self-Governance, and Sanctions & Incentives. Within these frameworks, the report maps out 32 specific accountability tactics and analyzes their transferability and potential impact. 📊 Recommended Tactics Among the key tactics recommended for prioritization are the implementation of embodied carbon legislation, increasing transparency regarding raw material usage, and updating membership requirements for professional bodies. The report also suggests stricter public procurement guidelines and the creation of tools to hold companies accountable for their climate and social commitments. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need to apply pressure on capital providers concerning Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements. 🏗️ Unique Characteristics of the Built Environment The built environment sector presents unique challenges for accountability efforts, such as the dominance of the public sector as a customer, business-to-business dynamics, extended project lifecycles, and high stakes that lead to risk aversion. Additionally, fluctuations in material availability and market conditions further complicate accountability strategies. 📈 Detailed Analysis and Recommendations The report provides an in-depth analysis of how each accountability mechanism can be applied in the built environment, complete with case studies, hypothetical scenarios, and tailored recommendations. While many tactics are already in partial implementation, the authors argue that additional resources and coordinated efforts could significantly enhance their effectiveness across Europe. 🔑 The Role of Regulation Regulation is highlighted as a crucial mechanism for driving change within the industry; however, the report also notes that voluntary initiatives can serve as effective precursors or complements to regulatory approaches. The findings aim to guide organizations striving to enhance accountability and promote sustainable transformation in the European built environment sector.
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.