NEW YORK — In recognition of Climate Action Day, WSP USA has furthered its commitment to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, embodied carbon in its structural system projects by 2050 as a signatory to the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) SE 2050 Commitment Program.
“While significant progress has been made towards reducing operational carbon emissions within the built environment, more work is needed to understand and reduce embodied carbon emissions,” said Lou Cornell, chief executive officer at WSP USA. “We look forward to partnering with our clients to develop Future ReadyTM solutions that address embodied carbon.”
Two of the most commonly used structural materials — concrete and steel — represent approximately 21 percent of global carbon emissions. The objective of the SE 2050 program is to coalesce the support of the collective structural engineering industry to drive significant reductions of embodied carbon in the design and construction of structural systems.
The program provides support, education and tools to enable signatories to achieve this goal. Signatories commit to annually publishing an Embodied Carbon Action Plan (ECAP) and submitting data to the SE 2050 project database to increase understanding of embodied carbon and help set attainable targets for future projects.
“Structural engineering firms that have joined the SEI SE 2050 Commitment Program can now input specific project data into the database made possible by the SEI Futures Fund,” said Joseph DiPompeo, ASEC-2021 SEI President. “The goal to have 50 firms sign up to join the SE 2050 Commitment in 2021 has already been surpassed, and this commitment by structural engineering firms like WSP is an indication of how important this issue is to our profession.”
Joining the SE 2050 Commitment aligns with WSP’s climate action strategy. The firm has achieved carbon neutrality in the U.S. in its scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 business travel emissions since 2019. Globally, it has established an ambitious commitment to achieve net zero emissions across its value chain by 2040, supported by Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)- approved greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets.
WSP is also a sponsor of the Carbon Leadership Forum, whose mission is to eliminate embodied carbon in buildings and infrastructure by inspiring innovation and spurring change through collective action.
About WSP USA
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 12,000 employees in 200 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com
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