14.30 Interactive Roundtable Discussions

 

A. To comply or to leverage - how are businesses actually responding to the CSRD?

​

Exploring how the CSRD is driving large changes in organisations, and to discuss challenges and solutions to reporting and business transformation.

​

Facilitated by: ​Emiliano Micalizio, European Leader for ESG, Ramboll and Andrew Mather, Director, Strategic Sustainability Consulting UK, Ramboll

 

B. Environmental Destination of the water industry 

​

The National Framework for Water Resources (2020) requires water companies in England and Wales to develop and deliver their plans to arrive at an Environmental Destination in 2050 and beyond. Working with regulators, other water users and stakeholders, water companies have been challenged to maintain economic water supplies and protect and improve aquatic ecology under a changing climate. This roundtable will examine the technical, financial and practical challenges for water companies in delivering Environmental Destination.

​

Facilitated by: David Bradley, Technical Director Freshwater, APEM Group

 

C. Creating communities of practice for stakeholder management

​

For real transformation, sustainability needs to be accessible to all stakeholders. To do this we need to break down the barriers to engagement and tailor sustainability programs to the stakeholders you are working with. This roundtable will discuss strategies to communicate and collaborate with your stakeholders and the role of the sustainability professional in enabling this.

​

Facilitated by: Jane Wakiwaka, Head of Sustainability, Real Estate Management (UK) Ltd

 

D. Driving value and innovation through reporting

​

With the introduction of new legislation, organisations are moving from disclosing against voluntary frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative to the more comprehensive, mandatory frameworks found in regulation, such as the EU CSRD. Some might see these disclosures as a burden, others see them as an opportunity to move organisations forward, engage a wider stakeholder group, and showcase achievements. This roundtable will discuss the benefits, risk, and opportunities around this new world of reporting and how reporting can create value for practitioners and their organisations.

​

Facilitated by: Vic Taylor, Vice-Chair, ICRS (Institute of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability)

 

E. Collaborating for industry-wide sustainability plans

​

Join this roundtable to explore:

​

• The value of an industry-wide or sector-wide approach to sustainability

• How organisations can co-create common sustainability goals

• Embedding a consistent approach to sustainability across a whole industry

 

Facilitated by: Thom Rawson, Sustainable Rail Principal, Rail Safety & Standards Board

 

F. Changes and impacts of the Government’s proposals on planning reform

​

Discussing the new Government’s proposals on planning reform, changes to NPPF to fast track planning decision making and its impact on the delivery of sustainability in housing and construction

​

Facilitated by: Peter Atchison, Chair, Environmental Industries Association

​

G. Role of value chain in accelerating decarbonisation

​

According to PAS 2080, value chains are organisations such as asset owners/managers, designers, constructors, and product/material suppliers responsible for delivering built assets and networks. This roundtable will discuss the importance of collaboration across the value chain for effective whole life carbon reduction of concrete construction. It will look at strategies for engaging and aligning stakeholders in decarbonization efforts, set appropriate carbon reduction targets, find collaborative ways of working that promote increase efficiencies in design and construction, determine consistent methods of concrete carbon measurements and reporting, and identify obstacles like financial issues and communication gaps.

​

Facilitated by: Noushin Khosravi, Head of Sustainability, UK Concrete, Mineral Products Association

 

H. With much of the low-hanging fruit already picked, what’s the next step for advancing infrastructure development towards Net Zero?  

 

Together we will consider the following:

​

• Next-Generation Sustainable Materials

• No build solutions/asset sweating

• Nature based solutions, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

• Renewable Energy

• Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction

• Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency

• Equitable and Inclusive Infrastructure Development

 

Facilitated by: Steve Morgan, Director for Planning, Environment & Sustainability, Burns & McDonnell UK & Europe