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NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

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Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
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NEWS: Stricter tender rules key to construction reaching net-zero in the UK

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UK's Construction minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan has outlined three government procurement changes designed to push the industry towards net-zero


Construction minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan has outlined three government procurement changes designed to push the industry towards net-zero.

Speaking at day one of CN’s Decarbonsing Construction event , Trevelyan said the government had to use its buying power to create change: “It’s likely that, going forward, government tenders will place greater emphasis on climate change. We have made it very clear that whole-life value rather than upfront cost is key, and carbon impact is a critical element in assessing broader value.”

The minister listed three actions the government was taking to ensure contractors commit to reducing their carbon contributions.


Central to its plan is the ‘carbon exclusion measure’, a warning that companies without net-zero plans, or  not committed to net-zero by 2050, will be barred from bidding for public sector work. The policy, first announced in June, will apply to contracts above £5m. The government said applying it to smaller contracts would be a burden to SMEs.

Trevelyan also highlighted the National Procurement Policy statement, which stipulates that public sector buyers must consider how their procurement can tackle climate change and reduce waste.

The third and final measure is a requirement for central government departments to “expressly evaluate environmental, social and economic benefits” during the procurement process.

Trevelyan said achieving carbon reduction in the construction industry was vital to meeting the government’s goal of the UK economy being net-zero by 2050.

She said: “There are few partnerships more important than ours [government with construction]. To realise our bold vision for building back better, we need to wed our strengthening partnership to a bold new approach to the built environment, fundamentally changing how we plan design and deliver new our homes and infrastructure.”

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