Tackling the Climate Emergency in Britain and Beyond

Tackling the Climate Emergency in Britain and Beyond:
What We Can Learn from the Institution of Structural Engineers

Sponsored by the Committee on Sustainability & Structural Engineering Institute Boston Chapter

Cosponsored by: 

Monday, May 1, 2023 
Fort Point Room, 290 Congress Street, Suite 200, Boston, MA, 02210
5:30 PM Registration & Social, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Presentation

Join this special presentation by Will Arnold, Head of Climate Action at the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and co-sponsored by the BSA, SEI Boston Chapter, BSCES Committee on Sustainability, BE+, CLF Boston/Northeast, SEAMass, and SE 2050. 

Over the last three years, the IStructE has been at the forefront of the global structural engineering community’s refocusing around sustainability. In this evening lecture, Will will reflect on the industry change that he has helped to spearhead, placing embodied carbon at the heart of what the IStructE now expects of its 30,000-strong global membership.

The talk will explore the methods used by the IStructE to create such rapid change, including pulling together more than 200 pieces of sustainability guidance, much of which the Institution made free to non-members. It will look at updated membership standards and cross-industry initiatives such as a campaign to legislate the UK’s embodied carbon emissions that Will has been leading.  

This presentation is relevant for structural engineers, architects, and other building professionals. Following Will’s presentation there will be a moderated discussion addressing current and potential applications to local and regional embodied carbon reduction activities and ways attendees can become involved. The evening will conclude with networking and the opportunity to win printed copies of notable IStructE sustainability publications.

Will Arnold, CEng, FIStructE, FRSA, Head of Climate Action, The Institution of Structural Engineers
Will Arnold is a Fellow and staff member of The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), responsible for embedding sustainability action into all aspects of the institution's work. He is responsible for driving the update of minimum standards for institution members, developing supporting guidance, and leading collaboration with wider industry. Will was the lead author of Part Z (an industry proposal for embodied carbon regulation in the UK) and is helping to deliver both the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, and the Built Environment Carbon Database. In recognition of his work instigating change in the field of structural sustainability, Will holds the IStructE President’s Award, and the Memcom Outstanding Achievement Award.

Registration Fees:
In-person: $20, Remote Access: $10

Information/Registration: 
Register to attend this meeting and pay by credit card here. If you have a question about registration, you can email bsa@architects.org. Cancellations received after Wednesday, April 26, 2023, and no-shows will be billed.

Please note that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists anywhere other people are present, and even precautionary measures such as masking and social distancing cannot completely eliminate this risk. The Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE (BSCES) encourages any person attending a Society-sponsored in-person activity to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, any person who chooses to travel to and/or participate in any BSCES in-person activity assumes all risks arising from that decision. All participants must agree to comply with all safety procedures established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as any other protocols put in place by BSCES, the host sites, travel facilities, or any other applicable authorities.