Roadmap to sustainability and net zero carbon of built environment in the Czech Republic

Roadmap purpose

• To serve as a methodological document/set of general recommendations leading to the carbon neutrality of the construction sector.

• Subsequent sustainability of the document: the release of the roadmap is the first step, it must be followed by continuous monitoring of compliance with the recommendations based on the indicators developed. The roadmap will become a "national" document, which e.g. some ministry will take as its own and will take care of its implementation through measurable indicators and monitor them over time. Political support will be sought.

Content

• Introducing a vision of carbon neutrality and defining the concept of net zero carbon for individual areas of sustainability in the building segment – energy efficiency, water management, circular economy.
• State of play and description of current developments
• Continuity with existing related national strategy documents, legislation and directives at EU level.
• Identification of built-in emissions in the production and transport of materials.
• Description of the buildings sector – statistics of the existing building stock including types of buildings according to use and ownership; differentiation according to typical energy consumption and associated emissions.
• Analysis of barriers and opportunities – identification of barriers to a faster development of reducing the carbon footprint, or failing to meet set targets, and searching for opportunities and opportunities for more ambitious scenarios.
• Financing the transition to carbon neutrality – identification of the level of funding needed and searching for possible sources.
• Conclusions and recommendations – soft and hard measures across building sectors and types of owners
• Public sector – measurable indicators to describe the development of the environment for fulfilling the path to carbon neutrality – legislative framework, government support, local administration, municipalities. Examples for inspiration.
• Private sector – recommendations for the transition to carbon neutrality from the perspective of various actors (links) in the sustainable construction value chain. Examples for inspiration.

Width of coverage

The largest emissions are associated with material manufacturers and building operators – they have a direct influence on the largest volume of emissions associated with the building sector. For companies in these areas, the carbon footprint will be mapped to the extent of available evidence:

• Scope 1 – direct emissions from own activities.
• Scope 2 – indirect emissions from consumed energy.
• Scope 3 – emissions beyond the control of the company – only generically for the main materials; the level of detail will be determined over the course of effectiveness and data availability; without the influence of transport.

The other links in the chain have an indirect influence on emission reductions for the above groups, they themselves emit minimally (architects, designers, consultants, contractors, non-profit organisations, etc.). These will be given sub-chapters with softer measures such as education and awareness-raising.

Macroeconomic view from above

A view of the construction industry with the inclusion of measurable indicators and with the monitoring of changes over time.

• Production stages from extraction to production with transport to the construction site. The construction process itself will not be included, it has minimal impact. These are phases A1-A3 of LCA evaluation. Data on fuel consumption according to NACE codes and on manufactured material from CSO data will be used. A comparative indicative calculation of emissions and specific emissions per produced unit will be performed. This will measure the efficiency of the production of basic materials with the possibility to compare over time.
• The operational phase B6 LCA – with energy consumption evaluation according to energy carriers with conversion to the unit of measurement. Alternatively, B7 water consumption according to data availability.
• The end of life cycle phase C1-C4 and D LCA – deconstruction, waste management, removal and potential for element reuse and material recycling. The development of the share of environmentally friendly solutions over time.
• Numbers of companies with EPD or other evaluation for their products, numbers of evaluations created.
• ESG reporting / taxonomy – how much money is funded into projects fulfilling taxonomy requirements.
• Energy and material non/dependence on foreign supplies – volume monitoring.

Bottom view

The aim will be to present good practice and inspire others on the supply and demand side.

• Examples of products evaluated from an environmental point of view, e.g. through EPD.
• Examples of buildings with an emphasis on sustainability elements.

• Examples of companies and organisations approach to decarbonisation – real concrete projects being prepared and implemented.

Roadmap preparation schedule