INSIGHTS

SUSTAINABILITY
GLOSSARY
We can help
you deliver your
sustainability ambitions
We are at a pivotal moment as the world
approaches climate and ecological limits,
and as understanding of sustainability
and ESG impacts evolves rapidly.

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

Introduction

Now is the time for us to act on net

zero delivery, prepare for physical
climate risks, understand our material
ESG risks and opportunities, protect
and enhance biodiversity, and maximise
our contributions to social value as we
transition to a greener economy.
Our experts can develop the approach that is right for
you to achieve your sustainability ambitions, simplifying
the intricate challenges involved.

Sustainability is a complex field, with

many definitions and acronyms, and
the aim of this glossary is to help
clients, colleagues and stakeholders
improve their knowledge in this
field and use clear and consistent
terminology. The glossary, which
will be updated regularly, is
reflective of all the markets we
operate in around the world.

In this document, you will also learn how RLB is building

sustainability to be a core offering across all the industry
sectors we serve, supporting clients to achieve more
sustainable outcomes through their projects. At asset,
organisational and community levels, our specialists are
here to help you:

• Meet your ESG objectives

• Keep your estate on the path to net zero
• Deliver sustainable business solutions
• Create social value that you can count

With our in-depth expertise and comprehensive range of

services, we can guide you on your sustainability journey.

Heather Evans
Head of Sustainability Services UK & Europe, Global
Chair Sustainability Services Committee

sustainability@[Link]

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

We have expert sustainability
teams around the world

North America
Aaron Woodward
Associate Principal
[Link]@[Link]

Oceania Asia
Arif Uzay Anderson Chan
Director North Asia Managing Director
[Link]@[Link] [Link]@[Link]

Africa
Francois Rossouw
Director
[Link]@[Link]

Middle East UK & Europe

Seb Davies Heather Evans
Director - Cost Management Head of Sustainability Services
[Link]@[Link] Chair, Global Sustainability
Services Committee
sustainability@[Link]
A-Z Glossary

A
Absolute zero carbon
Eliminating all carbon emissions
without the use of offsets.
(Source: WLCN, 2023)

Afforestation SERVICE SERVICE

Establishment of forest through Biodiversity Consultancy Green Building
planting and/or deliberate seeding
Accreditations
on land that, until then, was under
a different land use; implies a Our future depends on
transformation of land use from non- nature in many ways, yet our With 40% of global carbon
forest to forest. environment is now facing emissions linked to the built
rapid decline. Our ecologists environment and growing
(Source: FAO, 2020) and nature specialists can assist regulatory requirements,
you in assessing, planning building certifications like
and developing an action BREEAM, LEED and SKA are

B
plan to protect and enhance crucial to your capital and
biodiversity. We incorporate asset plans. With emerging
nature into ESG reporting, ESG focus on real estate assets,
understand supply chain risks, green building accreditation
and deal with nature in the built is a key reportable indicator in
environment, from biodiversity frameworks such as the Global
B Corporation certification net gain assessments to nature- Real Estate Sustainability
Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, based solutions to climate Benchmark (GRESB). Our
are companies verified by B Lab change. sustainability experts are here
to meet high standards of social to support you at every step,
Find out more
and environmental performance, from estate-wide strategies to
transparency and accountability. project-level certifications.
(Source: B Lab, 2023) Find out more
Biofuel
Biodiversity Liquid, solid or gaseous fuel
produced by conversion of biomass
Biological diversity (biodiversity) such as bioethanol from sugar
is the occurrence of different types
of ecosystems, different species of
organisms with the whole range of
their variants and genes adapted to
different climates, and environments
along with their interactions and
cane, corn, charcoal or woodchips,
and biogas from anaerobic
decomposition of wastes.
(Source: Sanchez et al., 2019)
C
Carbon capture, utilisation
processes. BREEAM and storage (CCUS)
(Source: Muralikrishna & Manickam, 2017) CCUS involves the capture of CO2
BREEAM is used to specify
and measure the sustainability from large point sources, such as
performance of buildings, ensuring power generation or industrial
that projects meet sustainability facilities that use either fossil fuels
goals and continue to perform or biomass as fuel, or directly from
optimally over time. the atmosphere for utilisation
or permanent storage (often
(Source: BREEAM, 2023)
underground).
(Source: IEA, 2023)

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

Carbon credit Carbon footprint Circular economy
A carbon credit is a token (often Carbon footprint is often used as A circular economy entails markets
tradable) representing the avoidance shorthand for the amount of carbon that give incentives to reusing
or removal of greenhouse gas (usually in tonnes) being emitted by products, rather than scrapping
emissions, measured in tonnes of an activity or organisation. them and then extracting new
carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). (Source: Global Footprint Network, 2023) resources. In such an economy, all
(Source: LSE, 2022) forms of waste, such as clothes,
scrap metal and obsolete electronics,
Carbon neutral are returned to the economy or used
Carbon emissions All carbon emissions are balanced more efficiently.
Carbon emissions are the emissions with offsets based on carbon (Source: UNCTAD, 2023)
stemming from the burning of removals or avoided emissions.
fossil fuels and the manufacture of
cement; they include carbon dioxide
(Source: WLCN, 2023) Climate adaptation
produced during consumption of The process of adjustment to actual
solid, liquid and gas fuels as well Carbon offset or expected climate and its effects.
as gas flaring. Emissions of CO2 A carbon offset broadly refers to In human systems, adaptation seeks
are from burning oil, coal and gas a reduction in greenhouse gas to moderate or avoid harm or exploit
for energy use, burning wood emissions – or an increase in carbon beneficial opportunities.
and waste materials, and from storage (for example, through land (Source: IPCC,2019)
industrial processes such as cement restoration or the planting of trees)
production. – that is used to compensate for
(Source: EcoLife, 2022; WorldBank, 2020) emissions that occur elsewhere.
(Source: Carbon Offset Guide, 2023)

Carbon sequestration
Carbon sequestration is the process
of capturing and storing atmospheric
carbon dioxide. Plants sequester
carbon by capturing carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere and
transforming it into biomass through
photosynthesis.
SERVICE
(Source: UNECE, 2023)
Climate Change Adaptation
SERVICE
Carbon sinks
Net Zero, Climate Action Extreme weather events
A carbon sink is anything that including record-breaking
and Carbon Management sequesters more carbon from the temperatures and floods
atmosphere than it releases – for are the new normal, with
With up to 40% of carbon example, plants, the ocean and soil. the ever-growing physical
emissions linked to (Source: National Geographic, 2023) hazards of climate change
construction and the built becoming more and more
environment, every community, apparent. While it’s easy to feel
Carbon source
organisation and asset manager overwhelmed, now is the time
needs to take urgent, smart A carbon source is anything that to act on climate adaptation.
action to reach net zero. We releases more carbon than it Whether you manage built
will work with you to achieve sequesters. assets, organisations or a
your decarbonisation and ESG (Source: National Geographic, 2023) community, our experts can
goals. Our carbon management help you conduct climate risk
expertise supports real- assessments and implement
world decision-making and
CDP practical interventions to meet
practical delivery. Combined CDP, originally known as the Carbon the challenges you face.
with our world-leading cost Disclosure Project, is a global Find out more
management capabilities, non-profit that runs the world’s
you will be uniquely placed to environmental disclosure system
understand the financial impact for investors, companies, cities and
of decarbonisation and build governments to assess their impact
the business case for action. and take urgent action to build a
truly sustainable economy.
Find out more
(Source: CDP, 2023)

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

Climate Change Act Corporate social
The Climate Change Act commits responsibility (CSR)
the UK Government by law to CSR is a management concept
reducing greenhouse gas emissions whereby companies integrate social
by at least 100% of 1990 levels (net and environmental concerns in their
zero) by 2050. business operations and interactions
(Source: Climate Change Committee, with their stakeholders.
2023)
(Source: UNIDO, 2023)

Climate mitigation Corporate Sustainability

Mitigation means making the Reporting Directive (CSRD) CASE STUDY
impacts of climate change less
severe by preventing or reducing the The Corporate Sustainability Cambridgeshire
emission of greenhouse gases into Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires County Council – Heat
the atmosphere. all large companies (meeting two
of the following three criteria: more Decarbonisation Strategy
(Source: European Environment Agency,
than 250 employees, a turnover
2023)
of over €40 million and over
€20m in total assets) and all listed Cambridgeshire County Council
Climate resilience companies (except listed micro- is committed to become
enterprises) to disclose information fossil fuel free by 2025 and
Resilience to climate change is
on what they see as the risks and achieve net zero by 2050 as
defined as the capacity to prepare
opportunities arising from social and part of its climate change and
for, respond to, and recover from the
environmental issues, and on the environment strategy. RLB
impacts of hazardous climatic events
impact of their activities on people was appointed to develop
while incurring minimal damage to
and the environment. heat decarbonisation plans for
societal wellbeing, the economy and
22 council-owned properties
the environment. (Source: European Commission, 2023) across Cambridgeshire, which
(Source: LSE, 2022) included corporate offices,
children and family centres,

D
Climate risk libraries and community
centres.
In the context of climate change,
risks can arise from potential impacts Find out more
of climate change as well as human
responses to climate change.
Decarbonisation
(Source: IPCC, 2020)
The process by which countries Doughnut Economics
or other entities aim to achieve a
Conference of Parties low-carbon economy, or by which
Developed by Kate Raworth,
Doughnut Economics is an approach
(COP) individuals aim to reduce their
to framing the challenge of meeting
The COP is the supreme decision- consumption of carbon.
the needs of all by providing a
making body of the UNFCCC. (Source: IPCC, 2019) solid social foundation, while
All States that are Parties to the still operating within planetary
UNFCCC are represented at the boundaries.
COP, at which they review the Deforestation
(Source: Raworth, 2017)
implementation of the Convention The conversion of forest to other
and any other legal instruments land use independently whether
that the COP adopts and take human-induced or not. DREAM
decisions necessary to promote
(Source: FAO, 2020) This Defence Related Environmental
the effective implementation of the
Convention, including institutional Assessment Methodology (DREAM)
and administrative arrangements. is an environmental assessment and
certifcation programme for new and
(Source: UNFCCC, 2023) existing buildings on the Ministry of
Defence (MOD) estate.
(Source: MOD, 2020)

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

 Environmental, social and E-waste

E
Earth Overshoot Day
governance (ESG)
Environmental, social and
governance (ESG), previously
considered non-financial elements,
have now emerged as core values
E-waste is a term often used to
describe used electronics that are
nearing the end of their useful life
and discarded, donated or recycled.
(Source: EPA, 2023)
Earth Overshoot Day marks the of companies, major financial
date when humanity’s demand for institutions and shareholders around
ecological resources and services in the world. They are considered
a given year exceeds what Earth can
regenerate in that year.
(Source: Earth Overshoot Day, 2023)

Ecosystem
deeply in core management
strategies that companies must
implement for sustainable
management and investment.
(Source: ASDUN, 2023)
F
Fitwel
An ecosystem is a geographic area Fitwel is a healthy building
where plants, animals and other certification based on scorecards
organisms, as well as weather and that include evidence-based design
landscapes, work together to form a and operation strategies that
bubble of life. enhance buildings by addressing a
broad range of health behaviours
(Source: National Geographic, 2023)
and risks. Each strategy is associated
with unique points allocations
Ecosystem services based on the strength of associated
Ecosystem services are the benefits evidence and the demonstrated
people obtain from ecosystems. impact on occupant health. These
These include provisioning, points determine what level of Fitwel
regulating and cultural services that CASE STUDY certification a building receives (a
directly affect people and supporting one, two or three-star rating).
How ESG is changing the
services needed to maintain the (Source: Fitwel, 2023)
other services. value of our commercial
(Source: Millennium Ecosystem estates

G
Assessment, 2010)

Matthew Brooker, National

Embodied carbon Head of Commercial, RLB UK,
Embodied carbon is the total reflects on how the evaluation
greenhouse gas emissions (often of commercial buildings
simplified to ‘carbon’) generated is changing at pace, with GHG Protocol
to produce a built asset. This environmental, social and GHG Protocol establishes
includes emissions caused by governance elements (ESG) comprehensive global standardised
extraction, manufacture/processing, drivers behind this change. frameworks to measure and
transportation and assembly of every Find out more manage greenhouse gas (GHG)
product and element in an asset. emissions from private and public
(Source: UKGBC, 2017) sector operations, value chains and
mitigation actions.
European Green Deal
Environmental management (Source: GHG Protocol, 2023)
The European Green Deal is the EU’s
systems main growth strategy to transition Global Compact
An environmental management the EU economy to a sustainable
system (EMS) is a powerful tool economic model. Presented in The United Nations Global Compact
for managing the adverse impacts December 2019, the overarching is a call to companies to align
of activities of an organisation on objective of the European Green strategies and operations with
the environment aspects. It is often Deal is for Europe to become the universal principles on human rights,
associated with ISO 14001. first climate-neutral continent by labour, environment and anti-
2050. corruption, and take actions and
(Source: Halder, 2013)
advance societal goals.
(Source: European Commission, 2023)
(Source: UNGC, 2023)

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

Global Reporting Initiative Greenwashing
(GRI)
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
is the independent, international
organisation that helps businesses
and other organisations take
Greenwashing is the exaggeration
of environmental credentials. For
example, marketing communications
that give the impression business
operations are better for the
J
Just transition
responsibility for their impacts, environment than they are in reality.
A just transition seeks to ensure
by providing them with the global (Source: Courtnell, 2023) that the substantial benefits of a
common language to communicate green economy transition are shared
those impacts through sustainability widely, while also supporting those
reporting.

H
who stand to lose economically – be
(Source: GRI, 2023) they countries, regions, industries,
communities, workers or consumers.
Greenhouse gases (GHG) (Source: European Bank, 2023)

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are gases

in the atmosphere such as water Hydrotreated vegetable oil
vapour, carbon dioxide, methane (HVO)
and nitrous oxide that can absorb Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)
infrared radiation, trapping heat in is a low-carbon biofuel diesel
the atmosphere. This greenhouse alternative. It is derived from used
effect means that GHG emissions cooking oils, residue animal fats from
due to human activity cause global food processing, tall oil, and non-
warming. food grade crops. Unless directly
(Source: IPCC, 2019) specified, HVO is often derived in
part or fully from palm oil, which has
been linked to deforestation.
(Source: HVO Fuel UK, 2023) SERVICE

Green Economy Services

SERVICE
I
Impact investing
Understanding how the
developing green economy
will affect you has never been
more important. This includes
the cost and financial impact
of climate and ESG plans, the
Impact investments are investments opportunities and risks from
Decarbonisation Delivery made with the intention to generate the energy transition, and how
positive, measurable social and green finance could benefit
A strategic, holistic approach environmental impact alongside a your organisation. As leading
is needed to support built financial return. cost management experts, we
asset decarbonisation plans can provide you with up-to-
(Source: GIIN, 2023)
for an individual building date ESG, net zero and climate
or a large portfolio. In line change costs and intelligence
with your ESG agenda and
Intergovernmental Panel on data to support real-world
adhering to a ‘fabric first’ Climate Change (IPCC) financial decision-making.
approach methodology, we We will help you address the
The Intergovernmental Panel on
implement sustainable energy business, economic, regulatory
Climate Change (IPCC) is the United
improvement measures and and human impacts of climate
Nations body for assessing the
low-carbon solutions to change and ESG.
science related to climate change.
optimise estates and comply Find out more
(Source: IPCC, 2023)
with sustainable governance.
We will deploy digital solutions
to understand the current
energy performance of your
assets, using the data collected
to inform the planning,
development, management
and measurement of a
decarbonisation roadmap.
Find out more

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

 Nationally determined

L
LEED
contribution (NDC)
A nationally determined contribution
(NDC) is a non-binding national
plan highlighting climate change
mitigation, including climate-related
To achieve LEED certification, a targets for greenhouse gas emission
project earns points by adhering reductions. These plans also include
to prerequisites and credits that policies and measures governments
address carbon, energy, water, waste, aim to implement in response to
transportation, materials, health climate change and as a contribution
to achieve the global targets set out INSIGHT
and indoor environmental quality.
Projects go through a verification in the Paris Agreement.
Net Zero Carbon
and review process by Green (Source: CDP, 2023)
Building Certification Inc. (GBCI) and Procurement Guide
are awarded points that correspond Natural capital
to a level of LEED certification. RLB’s Net Zero Carbon
Natural capital is another term for Procurement Guide provides
(Source: USGBC, 2023)
the stock of renewable and non- insight from across the
renewable resources (for example, industry on how sustainability
Life cycle assessment plants, animals, air, water, soils, is dealt with throughout the
Life cycle assessment is a technique minerals) that combine to yield a procurement process.
for assessing the environmental flow of benefits to people.
Find out more
aspects associated with a product or (Source: Natural Capital Coalition, 2021)
service over its life cycle.
(Source: Muralikrishna & Manickam, 2017) Nature-based solutions

Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge
is a holistic performance-based
programme for designing,
constructing and operating buildings
Solutions that are inspired and
supported by nature, which are cost-
effective, simultaneously provide
environmental, social and economic
benefits, and help build resilience.
(Source: European Commission, 2023)
P
Paris Agreement
developed by the International Living The Paris Agreement is a legally
Future Institute (ILFI). Net zero carbon binding international treaty on
(Source: ILFI, 2023) climate change. Its overarching goal
A net zero (whole life) carbon asset is to hold “the increase in the global
is one where the sum total of all average temperature to well below
asset-related GHG emissions, both 2°C above pre-industrial levels”

N
operational and embodied, over an and pursue efforts “to limit the
asset’s life cycle (Modules A0-A5, temperature increase to 1.5°C above
B1-B8, C1-C4) are minimised, which pre-industrial levels”.
meets local carbon, energy and
(Source: UNFCCC, 2023)
water targets or limits, and with
NABERS residual ‘offsets’ equals zero.
(Source: WLCN, 2023)
PAS 2080
NABERS (National Australian
Built Environment Rating PAS 2080 is a global standard for
System) provides simple, reliable managing infrastructure carbon and
and comparable sustainability has been authored to meet World
measurement across building Trade Organization requirements.
sectors like hotels, shopping centres, The framework looks at the whole
apartments, offices and data centres. value chain, aiming to reduce carbon
and reduce cost through more
(Source: NABERS, 2023) intelligent design, construction and
use.
(Source: Carbon Trust, 2023)

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

Passivhaus SKA rating
Passivhaus is an international energy
performance standard. The core
focus of Passivhaus is to dramatically
reduce the requirement for space
heating and cooling, while also
S
Science Based Targets
SKA rating helps landlords and
tenants assess fit-out projects
against a set of sustainability good
practice criteria. SKA comprises
more than a hundred good practice
creating excellent indoor comfort measures covering energy and CO2
levels.
initiative emissions, waste, water, materials,
(Source: BRE, 2023)
The Science Based Targets initiative pollution, wellbeing and transport.
(SBTi) is a global body enabling An example of a good practice
businesses to set ambitious measure is that when wooden
Planetary boundaries greenhouse gas emissions reduction flooring is stripped out, it should be
The nine planetary boundaries targets in line with the latest climate sent to a salvage yard and reused
(climate change, ocean acidification, science. The SBTi’s goal is to drive instead of to landfill.
stratospheric ozone depletion, companies across the world to (Source: RICS, 2023)
land use change, freshwater use, support the global economy to halve
biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, emissions before 2030 and achieve
atmospheric aerosol loading, novel net zero before 2050. The initiative is Social value
entities) are scientifically-based a collaboration between CDP, United Social value is the quantification
levels of human-caused degradation Nations Global Compact, World of the relative importance that
of the Earth’s systems beyond Resources Institute (WRI) and World people place on the changes they
which their functioning may be Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). experience in their lives.
substantially altered. (Source: SBTi, 2023) (Source: Social Value UK, 2023)
(Source: Steffan et al., 2015)
Science-based targets
Science-based targets provide

R
a clearly defined pathway for
companies and financial institutions
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
in line with what the latest climate
science deems necessary to meet
REDD+ the goals of the Paris Agreement
(primarily to limit global warming to
REDD+ is a framework created by 1.5°C).
the UNFCCC Conference of the
Parties (COP) to guide activities (Source: CDP, 2023)
in the forest sector that reduces SERVICE
emissions from deforestation and Scope 1
forest degradation, as well as Social Value Consultancy
Covers direct emissions from owned
the sustainable management of
or controlled sources.
forests and the conservation and Establishing a value model
enhancement of forest carbon stocks (Source: The Carbon Trust, 2023) that quantifies both cost and
in developing countries. societal values created is key
(Source: UNFCCC, 2023) Scope 2 to ensuring we make business
decisions that are people-
Covers indirect emissions from
centred and fit for purpose
purchasing and using electricity,
throughout the project life
steam, heating and cooling. Using
cycle. ESG and wellbeing must
energy, an organisation is indirectly
be at the core of decision-
responsible for releasing these
making models to make
greenhouse gas emissions.
certain projects have a positive
(Source: The Carbon Trust, 2023) and sustainable impact on
surrounding communities. Our
Scope 3 experts will advise you how
to employ best-practice to
Includes all other indirect emissions create bespoke approaches
that occur in an organisation’s that measure and maximise
upstream and downstream activities. the social value impact of your
(Source: The Carbon Trust, 2023) projects.
Find out more

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

Sustainability Sustainable finance
“Meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own
needs.”
(Source: UN Brundtland Commission,
Sustainable finance refers to the
process of taking environmental,
social and governance (ESG)
considerations into account when
making investment decisions in the
T
Taskforce on Climate-
1987) financial sector, leading to more
long-term investments in sustainable
related Financial Disclosures
economic activities and projects. (TCFD)
(Source: European Commission, 2023) The remit of the Taskforce on
Climate-related Financial Disclosures
Sustainable procurement (TCFD) was to improve and increase
reporting of climate-related
Sustainable procurement is a process information. Concurrent with the
whereby organisations meet their release of its 2023 status report,
needs for goods, services, works the TCFD has fulfilled its remit and
and utilities in a way that achieves disbanded. Its website will remain
value for money on a whole life available to serve as a resource for
basis in terms of generating benefits materials developed by the TCFD.
not only to the organisation, but The Financial Stability Board has
SERVICE also to society and the economy, asked the IFRS Foundation to take
while minimising damage to the over the monitoring of the progress
ESG and Sustainability environment. of companies’ climate-related
Consultancy (Source: HMRC, 2016) disclosures.
(Source: TCFD, 2023)
Our understanding of climate Systems thinking
risk is evolving, from growing Systems thinking is a set of Taskforce on Nature-related
physical climate hazards synergistic analytic skills used to Financial Disclosures
and the imperative to reach improve the capability of identifying
net zero, to our economic (TNFD)
and understanding systems,
dependence on nature predicting their behaviours, and The Taskforce on Nature-related
and working conditions in devising modifications to them in Financial Disclosures (TNFD), which
supply chains. The financial order to produce desired effects. launched in June 2021, is developing
advantages of, and stakeholder It is widely believed to be critical and delivering a risk management
preference for, ESG grows to handling the complexity of the and disclosure framework for
clearer by the day. With this challenges posed by climate change. organisations to report and act on
growing focus on ESG and nature-related risks. In March 2023,
sustainability, along with (Source: Arnold & Wade, 2015)
TNFD released the fourth version
increasing regulation, our of its beta framework for market
experts will help you research, consultation.
plan, act and report against
(Source: TNFD, 2023)
the issues, frameworks and
strategies that fit the unique
needs of your organisation and Transition plan
built assets. A time-bound action plan that
Find out more clearly outlines how an organisation
will achieve its strategy to pivot its
existing assets, operations and entire
business model towards a trajectory
Sustainable Development that aligns with the latest and most
Goals (SDGs) ambitious climate science.
The Sustainable Development Goals (Source: CDP, 2023)
(SDGs), also known as the Global
Goals, were adopted by the United
Nations in 2015 as a universal call to
action to end poverty, protect the
planet, and ensure that by 2030 all
people enjoy peace and prosperity.
(Source: UNDP, 2023)

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

Triple bottom line Whole life carbon
The triple bottom line is a business Whole life carbon emissions are
concept that states firms should the sum total of all asset-related
commit to measuring their social and greenhouse gas emissions and
environmental impact – in addition removals, both operational and
to their financial performance embodied over the life cycle of an
– rather than solely focusing on asset including its disposal.
generating profit, or the standard
(Source: WLCN, 2023)
bottom line. It can be broken down
into three ‘Ps’: profit, people and
planet. WiredScore
(Source: Miller, 2020) WiredScore certification recognises
and promotes best-in-class digitally
connected buildings across the

U
globe.
(Source: WiredScore, 2023)

United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework

Z
Zero waste
Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) entered into force on Zero waste is the conservation of all
21 March 1994. Today, it has near- resources by means of responsible
universal membership. The 198 production, consumption, reuse, and
countries that have ratified the recovery of products, packaging and
Convention are called Parties to the materials without burning and with
Convention. Preventing “dangerous” no discharges to land, water or air
human interference with the climate that threaten the environment or
system is the ultimate aim of the human health.
UNFCCC.
(Source: ZIWA, 2018)
(Source: UNFCCC, 2023)

W
WELL certification

Projects pursuing WELL certification

can earn points based on
performance outcomes for various
policy, design and operational
strategies that address how buildings
can improve health and wellbeing.
Projects can achieve one of four
certification levels: Bronze, Silver,
Gold or Platinum.
(Source: IWBI, 2023)

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

Integrated solutions
responding to your
sustainability challenges
RLB is on a journey to become a truly sustainable business in the projects
we deliver and the services we provide.

We are committed to helping our clients achieve sustainable outcomes

and positive societal impacts, and to improve their readiness and
resilience in response to the climate emergency.

Our specialist teams support our clients to set decarbonisation and net
zero goals and strategies, and develop the integrated solutions needed to
achieve them. We are active in all regions globally, gather and share best
practice from all sectors, and work on all scales of built environment as
well as across organisations.

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

Net Zero, Climate Action
and Carbon Management
With up to 40% of carbon emissions linked to
construction and the built environment, every
community, organisation and asset manager
needs to take urgent, smart action to reach net
zero. We will work with you to achieve your
decarbonisation and ESG goals.

Our carbon management expertise

supports real-world decision-
making and practical delivery.
Combined with our world-leading
cost management capabilities,
you will be uniquely placed to
understand the financial impact
of decarbonisation and build the
business case for action.

Find out more

Green Building
Accreditations
With 40% of global carbon emissions linked to
the built environment and growing regulatory
requirements, building certifications like
BREEAM, LEED and SKA are crucial to your
capital and asset plans.

With emerging ESG focus on real estate assets,

green building accreditation is a key reportable
indicator in frameworks such as the Global Real
Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB).

Our sustainability experts are here

to support you at every step, from
estate-wide strategies to project-
level certifications.

Find out more

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

 ESG and Sustainability
Consultancy
Our understanding of climate risk is evolving,
from growing physical climate hazards and the
imperative to reach net zero, to our economic
dependence on nature and working conditions in
supply chains. The financial advantages of, and
stakeholder preference for, ESG grows clearer by
the day.

With this growing focus on ESG

and sustainability, along with
increasing regulation, our experts
will help you research, plan, act
and report against the issues,
frameworks and strategies that
fit the unique needs of your
organisation and built assets.

Find out more

Social Value Consultancy

Establishing a value model that quantifies
both cost and societal values created is key to
ensuring we make business decisions that are
people-centred and fit for purpose throughout
the project life cycle.

ESG and wellbeing must be at the core of

decision-making models to make certain projects
have a positive and sustainable impact on
surrounding communities.

Our experts will advise you

how to employ best-practice to
create bespoke approaches that
measure and maximise the social
value impact of your projects.

Find out more

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall
Decarbonisation Delivery
A strategic, holistic approach is needed to
support built asset decarbonisation plans for
an individual building or a large portfolio. In line
with your ESG agenda and adhering to a ‘fabric
first’ approach methodology, we implement
sustainable energy improvement measures and
low-carbon solutions to optimise estates and
comply with sustainable governance.

We will deploy digital solutions

to understand the current
energy performance of your
assets, using the data collected
to inform the planning,
development, management
and measurement of a
decarbonisation roadmap.

Find out more

Green Economy Services

Understanding how the developing green
economy will affect you has never been
more important. This includes the cost and
financial impact of climate and ESG plans,
the opportunities and risks from the energy
transition, and how green finance could benefit
your organisation.

As leading cost management

experts, we can provide you
with up-to-date ESG, net zero
and climate change costs and
intelligence data to support real-
world financial decision-making.
We will help you address the
business, economic, regulatory
and human impacts of climate
change and ESG.

Find out more

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall

 Climate Change
Adaptation
Extreme weather events including record-
breaking temperatures and floods are the new
normal, with the ever-growing physical hazards
of climate change becoming more and more
apparent. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed,
now is the time to act on climate adaptation.

Whether you manage built

assets, organisations or a
community, our experts can
help you conduct climate risk
assessments and implement
practical interventions to meet
the challenges you face.

Find out more

Biodiversity Consultancy
Our future depends on nature in many ways, yet
our environment is now facing rapid decline. Our
ecologists and nature specialists can assist you
in assessing, planning and developing an action
plan to protect and enhance biodiversity.

We incorporate nature into

ESG reporting, understand
supply chain risks, and deal with
nature in the built environment,
from biodiversity net gain
assessments to nature-based
solutions to climate change.

Find out more

Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall Sustainability Glossary | Rider Levett Bucknall
Bringing imagination to life

RLB is an independent global construction and property consultancy providing management and advice throughout
the built environment.
We are committed to creating value for our clients, achieving commercial certainty, project and program success and
optimised assets to projects across the world. We do this through our extensive expertise in cost management and
quantity surveying, project and program management, asset advisory and specialist consultancy.
Throughout our long history, our 4000 people, working across 40 countries, have made a difference to our clients
by combining fresh perspectives with sector expertise. Together, we’re creating a better tomorrow through flawless
execution today.

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