Last week, the Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment Report was published by the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
It is a very strong report for the Irish forestry sector and the JOC was informed of the huge contribution which forestry and timber make in reducing carbon emissions.
Below is a summary of the key the recommendations made by the Committee which are most relevant for our sector:
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine should develop a revised forestry licensing regime that will allow for greater timber input into the construction industry.
That the Department should consider revisiting Part B of the Building Regulations 2006 Technical Guidance Documents with the aim of providing clear and consistent guidance surrounding the safe use of timber structures.
That the Department should engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform/Office of Government Procurement to prioritise the development of revised public procurement rules that encourage and emphasise the use of low-carbon construction materials.
That the Department should engage with the National Building Control Office and Building Control and Fire Safety officials in Local Authorities to amend Building Regulations to permit timber-based buildings over 10m in a manner to ensure the highest levels of fire safety and the lowest embodied carbon content.
The Department should engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Office of Government Procurement and the Office of Public Works to agree an accelerated increase in the use of low carbon timber and cement products in all aspects of public capital projects such as social housing, schools, community facilities, roads etc., and to consider the introduction of a wood-first policy.