This framework is a first step towards effective, whole-life management of carbon in major infrastructure projects.

Adoption of its principles will lead to carbon reduction and an improved understanding of the full carbon impact of infrastructure. Companies and groups that use the framework will be helping the UK achieve its carbon reduction targets whilst delivering long-term assets more efficiently. The framework was conceived through the following project statement, developed by the steering group:

“This project will develop a practical framework that enables the whole life carbon impact of a major infrastructure project to be managed and influenced. The framework will address which carbon sources should be measured, how carbon can be managed across contractual and supply chain interfaces and who is accountable for each source.”

The framework is designed to help Clients or Project Leaders to tailor their processes towards the identification, management and reduction of carbon within their projects. The document guides the user through a project’s lifecycle, identifying and understanding:

• Who the Project Participants are and their contribution to the Project Carbon;
• Timeframes involved and defining the project boundary to decide which carbon sources to consider;
• The categorisation of carbon within the project boundary to identify where carbon can be managed, influenced and reported;
• The quantification of carbon;
• Carbon management and reduction strategies, both organisation and project based; and
• Creating a feedback loop for lessons learnt and information sharing.

The project framework aligns itself to the project management processes most commonly used in road and rail infrastructure projects. Three key activities have been derived from these processes; pre-design, design and construction which will be equally relevant to other infrastructure projects and contracts.

The framework considers whole life carbon by managing carbon in the pre-design, design and construction activities, whilst continually considering the carbon that also arises during the maintenance, operation, use and decommissioning activities.

Any carbon that arises directly from the project must initially be considered. The focus must then be on the most significant, most controllable and most reducible carbon emissions associated with the project in order to maximise carbon emission reductions. The figure above demonstrates useful categorisations of how carbon should be managed, influenced or reported.

Boundaries and quantification

The framework provides guidance on developing a project carbon boundary to identify which sources of carbon should be considered for carbon reduction. Setting the project boundary is in accordance with the GHG Protocol and accounts for Scopes 1, 2 and 3.

The quantification of carbon is based upon five ‘carbon spiders’ that represent key project components: materials; plant and equipment; utilities; change in land use; and transport. The carbon spiders enable a project to be broken down into manageable parts identifying how carbon sources can be categorised and what carbon sources should be considered for quantification. This allows a carbon forecast to be undertaken, with carbon assessments undertaken to help refine the anticipated carbon emissions.

Carbon Management and Reduction

Carbon management should focus on the most significant and manageable carbon sources available to reduce the absolute carbon of a particular project. The framework builds upon identifying, understanding and measuring significant sources of carbon, with the ultimate aim of carbon reduction through effective planning and management.

Carbon management needs to become a formal requirement embedded into project systems, supported by an awareness, understanding and education to establish a culture within clients and partners that is focused on carbon reduction.

Using the carbon spiders to break down a full project and quantify different parts enables carbon opportunities to be highlighted and risks exposed. The ability to influence and reduce absolute carbon is greatest at the early design stages and having carbon estimates at this stage is critical.

Project Team:

Harry Garnham, Highways Agency
Euan Greenoak, Network Rail
Prath Kaneri, Network Rail
Chris Kennedy, Balfour Beatty
Helen Jamieson, Highways Agency
Sue Leckie, Atkins
Margot Mear, Atkins

The full report is available to download here.

For more information, please contact Lorna Pelly