A framework for decarbonisation for bridge owners, engineers and designers

The Net Zero Bridges Group brings together bridge specialists concerned to lower the carbon dioxide footprint of their work, and to understand collectively how best to do so. Achieving net zero carbon dioxide by 2050 is the best way to mitigate the severity of the climate emergency. In addition to social consequences, failure will make ensuring the climate resilience of transport infrastructure increasingly difficult. Bridge engineers must rapidly develop new knowledge and skills, and commit to gradual but steady decarbonisation compatible with agreed climate pathways and timelines. Prioritising decarbonisation requires making different decisions to those traditionally made. The carbon dioxide reduction hierarchy asks that measures be prioritised to ‘avoid, switch and improve’. Applying these to bridge engineering requires bold choices, while managing risk effectively. The project life cycle must be rethought to allocate sufficient time at the right time. Above all, the challenge requires collaborative, collective action, to share data and best practice, rather than working in isolation. This paper sets the above in an overriding framework for action, and provides an overview of current thinking for decarbonising bridge construction and maintenance. It identifies priorities for the industry to tackle within the next few years.