Our commitment revolves around the development of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA), realised in fall 2023, to measure whole-life carbon in all stages of a built asset's lifecycle—from conception and design to construction, operation, and demolition.  

Covering all buildings and infrastructure, the RICS WLCA standard offers a reliable and comparable process for Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCAs), ensuring consistent results. It expands on existing life cycle modules to cover carbon emissions sources more comprehensively. When integrated into various asset lifecycle stages, it serves as a core decision-making tool. Aligned with global cost management frameworks and carbon management practices, it provides a holistic method for optimizing carbon performance.  

We intend to disseminate information and promote awareness of the standard among built environment professionals and stakeholders, with the goal of establishing the RICS WLCA standard as a widely adopted and recognised methodology for measuring the entire carbon footprint of built assets.  

We engage with national and international stakeholders, to advocate for harmonised approaches to whole-life carbon assessments, fostering the harmonisation of methodologies in the built environment. To support these efforts, we have created a series of documents: 

1. Global Harmonisation Framework: Outlines the need for consistent approaches to whole-life carbon assessments, detailing how the RICS standard achieves this. 

2. WLCA Client Guide: Equips clients to procure assessments aimed at reducing carbon emissions over an asset's life cycle. 

3. Capacity Building Playbook: Addresses the need for a skilled workforce in sustainable construction, featuring customisable initiatives. 

4. National Playbook for WLCA: Provides step-by-step guidance for embedding WLCA into policy 

3.12 Reporting of whole life carbon