Accelerating Action: A Holistic Approach to Net Zero and Sustainability
At the recent seminar at Sheppard Robson Architects, the panel—which included Sarah Allan (Head of Architecture, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government), Helena Rivers (Net Zero Lead, AECOM), Lee Bennett (Partner, Sheppard Robson), and Joanna Yarrow (Chief Impact Officer, Human Nature)—discussed one of the most critical challenges facing architecture and urban planning today: what are the most urgent steps to improve our chances of achieving net zero while building the cities, neighbourhoods, and homes we need? The conversation highlighted several essential factors—public support, policy innovation, professional education, and the need for a holistic, large-scale approach—all of which must align to meet this ambitious target.
Inevitably, the discussion meandered through various topics for some time before, at least in my mind, converging on a seemingly shared view of the critical issues and the most urgent actions and reforms.
1. Start with a Vision
A key takeaway was that sustainability must operate on a scale much broader than individual buildings. It cannot be achieved one building at a time by well-intentioned designers; it must be a comprehensive vision permeating all aspects of life. Joanna Yarrow from Human Nature illustrated this point with her experience of living in Malmö, where sustainable transport and services are fully integrated into the city’s fabric. There, a mother can cycle to work on wide, safe cycle routes, drop her children at nursery—rain or shine—rely on a transit system designed around walking and cycline, down to the detail of a thoughtfully placed canopy.
I don’t know Malmö that well, but it did remind me of my time in nearby Copenhagen as a visiting PhD student. A German colleague of mine, who split her time between Copenhagen and Berlin, used to say, “When I come to Copenhagen, it’s like stepping into a five-star hotel!” Blue cycle path, actioned doors into bike stores, even footrests for cyclists and junctions. Of course, this modern-day Copenhagen is the product of decades of policies, from the post-war finger plan to Jan Gehl’s human-centred urbanism of the 1980s and ’90s—often involving unpopular measures. It’s an example that shows the importance of a vision.
As Sarah Allan rightly emphasised, having public support is crucial. Numbers alone—especially when they focus on restrictions—can alienate people rather than engage them. A proactive and positive vision like Malmo’s or Copenhagen's can unite and meaningfully engage the public. And, of course, we’re not starting from scratch; this vision has informed so much planning and design over the last few decades, but it remains too fragmented and still competes with car culture. The government, as always, plays a critical role in setting the tone and shaping the policies around it.
2. Implementation at a Wider Scale
However, policies are not sufficient on their own. The education of professionals and civil servants who implement these policies is just as important. Planners, in particular, find themselves at the tricky crossroads of vision and metrics—ensuring the delivery of housing while assessing the sustainability of proposals beyond individual buildings. The conversation highlighted the difficulties in this area, with Helena Rivers from AECOM explaining how even agreeing on a definition of net zero across different scales remains a significant challenge. Here, the recent launch of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard is a step forward.
3. Finally, the Buildings
And finally to construction, where Helena Rivers and Lee Bennett of Sheppard Robson made two points I passionately believe in. Firstly, the importance of prioritising retrofit without creating high carbon emissions—essentially avoiding scenarios where the carbon cost of retrofitting negates the benefits. (Our work on nomoregas.org is done in this spirit.) Secondly, they noted how some of the best designers and engineers are practically shut out of large-scale housing delivery, which is predominantly geared towards mass production. Inevitably, the discussion turned to the housing crisis and the target of delivering 350,000 homes per year. While this might initially seem to complicate things further, it doesn’t have to. The real issue is that we cannot deliver this number of houses at low density and with minimal sustainability targets while staying within our carbon limits. Instead, we must return to the vision of a sustainable lifestyle that works for everyone: higher densities, integrated public and cycle transport, and better buildings.
It seems we simply (though not easily) need to commit to a coherent project and work together to implement it as swiftly as possible.
Learning from Copenhagen
Copenhagen’s success as a model of sustainable urbanism is rooted in its Finger Plan, a transit-oriented development strategy introduced in 1947. The plan structured the city’s growth along five ‘fingers’ extending from the city centre, each connected by public transport routes and surrounded by green spaces. This design ensured that development focused on transit hubs, promoting efficient public transport use and limiting urban sprawl. It’s a classic example of transit-driven urbanism, where urban growth and transportation are planned hand-in-hand.
Fast forward to the 1980s and ’90s, and Jan Gehl’s work built upon this foundation, shifting focus to human-centred urbanism. Gehl, a Danish architect and urban designer, advocated for reclaiming streets for pedestrians and cyclists. His research highlighted the importance of public spaces prioritising people over cars, and his interventions transformed Copenhagen into one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. The city’s blue cycle lanes, car-free streets, and thoughtful street furniture—like footrests for cyclists at intersections—are a direct result of Gehl’s approach. His work demonstrated how strategic planning and a commitment to liveability can create a thriving, sustainable urban environment.
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