Updated March 2024
Introduction
The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) recognises that climate change is a fundamental global threat that demands appropriate responses from all who have the ability to influence change. The IHBC furthermore considers that conservation of the historic built environment is an essential component of the response to the threat posed by climate change and long-term planning for sustainable development.
Several of the Institute’s Panels are regularly involved in discussing and consulting on issues pertaining to sustainability, climate change, retrofit, and more, including the Green Panel and Technical Panel. The IHBC is also members and active participants of Fit for the Future (FftF) and the Climate Heritage Network (CHN).
The Climate Change Hub stands as an access point and reference for the IHBC’s development of guidance, major events, policy positions, and more. It is an evolving resource which we aim to update regularly.
Free Webinars on BSI PAS-2035 & PAS-2038
The IHBC has hosted online, free webinars providing an overview of the BSI standardsPAS-2035 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency and PAS-2038 Retrofitting non-domestic buildings for improved energy efficiency. Both webinars were presented by IHBC Technical Panel Chair, Prof John Edwards, who led in the development of BS 7913 and has been a member the panels producing PAS 2030, PAS 2035 and PAS 2038. He developed the first 2 Day course in the Retrofit of Traditional Buildings in 2015 achieving the Level 3 Award qualification required by PAS 2035 and PAS 2038 and has been delivering it ever since. He has been involved in retrofit projects for over 30 years.
Buildings and Climate Global Forum
The IHBC has attended the Buildings and Climate Global Forum in the Palais des Congrès, Paris, France 7-8 March 2024. Hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the French Government, the Forum brought together ministers and high-level representatives of key organisations in an effort to spur the decarbonisation and resilience of the buildings sector. The event was the first of its kind and followed up on progress made at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). The IHBC helped to bring key messages to a global stage that 'building reuse is climate action' and 'scaling up traditional building knowledge is climate action.'
IHBC@COP26
In the runup to the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in the autumn of 2021, the IHBC endeavoured to promote the concept that Conserving our Places Conserves our Planet. As part of the wide-ranging ‘fringe’ series we successfully delivered a mix of live and pre-recorded content, exclusively digital, allowing us to be ‘present’ and personally engaging for a good part of the fortnight-long conference. It also allowed us to present pre-recorded content, in the form of a podcast, enabling our audience to hear from a broad range of sector experts about both what an enormous challenge climate change really is to the built environment, as well as to highlight the many ways conservation philosophy and practice might, and indeed often already do, offer opportunities to address those challenges. For further references, see the IHBC@COP26 Podcasts, subsequent briefing note, and IHBC Position Statement on sustainability.
Conservation, People, and Places APPG – The Value of Heritage
The Conservation, Places and People APPG was established to champion efforts to use the conservation and regeneration of the historic environment to help deliver thriving and sustainable communities. To that end, its inaugural report The Value of Heritage drew from a range of evidence to propose several recommendations, including reducing the VAT for repairs and refurbishment of existing buildings, a presumption against demolition and redevelopment in the Planning system, and more. The report was launched at the House of Commons 1 December 2022.
Annual School 2023 Swansea – Climate Change and the Historic Environment: Resilience and Performance
Having taken place 21-24 June 2023, the IHBC’s Annual School in Swansea was a full exploration of the issues around adapting historic places for reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions as well as for the effects of climate change. Consisting of lectures, networking, practical skill-shares, tours of on-site case studies, and an awards celebration it was one of the most technically ambitious annual schools yet. Topics explored include complying with standards, energy management, retrofit, fuel poverty and traditional buildings, energy targets, protected buildings and the climate emergency, and more.
Conclusion
The IHBC is committed to meeting the challenges of climate change, encouraging the principles and practice of built environment conservation as a key enabler for our communities to become more sustainable and more resilient. We hope this hub provides helpful references for all those concerned with the conservation and sustainability of the built environment. For any suggestions on how we can improve this service, contact Michael Netter, IHBC Professional Services Officer, at services@ihbc.org.uk.
