In a letter printed in the Financial Times today, the BBP along with leading membership organisations representing the construction and property sector have come together to reiterate the importance of sustainability in the wake of the referendum result to leave the EU.

The letter has been published by the FT here and the full text is below.

Sir,

The UK has always been a global leader in tackling climate change, both unilaterally and within the EU. Irrespective of the outcomes of exit negotiations over the next few years, it is vital that the UK retains its leadership position in driving the low carbon agenda.

As organisations representing the construction and property sector, we believe that the incentives remain strong for business to address climate change and other urgent sustainability challenges. The Paris Agreement has created a new global imperative for action and UK businesses can help to lead the world to achieve it. We welcome the confirmation of an ambitious fifth carbon budget which sends a strong signal about the positive direction of UK climate change policy.

The initial impacts of the EU referendum result have already been felt by the construction and property sector, so now more than ever we need to minimise future risk, reduce costs, add value for clients, generate new commercial opportunities and ensure we have the best people working as productively as possible. A sustainable built environment is fundamental to these objectives, and we are committed to collaborating across the industry and with the Government to achieve this.

A low carbon built environment can be a catalyst for innovation, investment and job creation. It can drive productivity and economic growth, and provide a platform for exporting British expertise, engineering and technology to a global market.

Your sincerely

William McKee
Chief Executive, Accessible Retail

Dr Joanne Wade
CEO, Association for the Conservation of Energy

Andrew Simmonds
Chief Executive Officer, Association of Environmentally Conscious Builders

Sarah Ratcliffe
Programme Director, Better Buildings Partnership

Edward Cooke
Acting Chief Executive, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, British Council for Shopping Centres

Melanie Leech
Chief Executive, British Property Federation

Gary Mees
President, Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists

John Field
President, Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers

Graham Watts
Chief Executive, Construction Industry Council

Dr Diana Montgomery
Chief Executive, Construction Products Association

Lynne Sullivan OBE
Chair, Good Homes Alliance

Miles Keeping
Chair of Investment Property Forum's Sustainability Interest Group

Paul Everall
Chief Executive and Company Secretary, Local Authority Building Control

Jon Bootland
Chief Executive, Passivhaus Trust

Alan Vallance
Interim Chief Executive, Royal Institute of British Architects

Matthew Howell
Managing Director, UK Markets, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Jon Lovell
Urban Land Institute UK Sustainability Council Chair

Julie Hirigoyen
Chief Executive, UK Green Building Council