PAS 2080 is a specification for whole life carbon management. It provides a common framework for how value chain members can collaborate to reduce overall long-term carbon.

This expanded note summarises the main intentions of PAS 2080 and provides reduction hierachy application examples for bridges.

This paper discusses the embodied carbon associated with structural steel in new bridges. It suggests reasons for the high capital carbon of steel in bridges, describes some of the factors that affect emissions and suggests how designers can minimise the embodied carbon associated with steel in their bridges.

This note is aimed primarily at bridge designers and contractors, and considers embodied carbon in pre-tensioned concrete bridge beams addressing early strength gain requirements, beam selection and other design considerations.

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.

In July 2024 the Net Zero Bridges Group re-surveyed our member organisations to understand their views on progress with decarbonisation of bridge works. All organisations surveyed are engaged in the design or engineering of bridges in the UK or Ireland.

Following the approach of the IStructE How to Calculate Embodied Carbon, this guidance note provides detailed specific guidance on how to calculate embodied carbon for bridges. Previous draft (v0.1) available here.

This note explains why concrete used in bridges has a high capital carbon, and discusses the factors that contribute to this.

Summarising the context of Net Zero for our industry and what bridge designers need to be doing to support this initiative.

It’s time to take our feet off the brakes, and together, start accelerating progress towards Net Zero bridges.

What action should engineers take to reduce the global warming potential of new build bridge projects and when should they do it?

This paper aims to raise awareness of the decarbonisation of sectors relevant to bridges in order to help inform how engineers can most effectively respond.

The Net Zero Bridges Group explains why specific guidance is needed on how bridge engineers can reduce the environmental impact of their bridge projects.

This informative guide explains why overdesign is so prevalent, and its impact on material consumption and CO2 emissions. The guidance covers the design process, through to fabrication, assembly, use, and deconstruction.

Second revision of the very useful guide by the Institution of Structural Engineers. This includes a bridge specific appendix written by two of our members.

Structural carbon rating scheme for bridges proposed by COWI.

In this article the authors also reinforce ‘the need to adopt (and hold ourselves to) low targets that are periodically updated and that tend towards zero, starting immediately’.

Information from a database of bridges is used in this research to estimate the capital carbon of 200 bridges. The data show the trends for different bridge loading types, materials and spans. The database can be used to assist with the reduction of carbon in bridges by benchmarking current carbon footprints.

The Routemap sets out recommendations and actions to drive out carbon from concrete. It has been published jointly by the Green Construction Board and the Institution of Civil Engineers to ensure ongoing ownership, commitment and drive.

This paper reviews the global availability of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), concluding that whilst global supplies must continue to be fully utilised, any local increase in the amount of clinker substituted with GGBS is unlikely to decrease global emissions.

The IStructE’s Climate Emergency Task Group has generated guidance, training and other useful resources, much of which is freely available to both members and non-members.

This report addresses the principal challenges of applying such a circular economy approach to the reuse of steel materials and components in bridges. As such, it is a timely and very welcome resource for all bridge design and construction professionals, as well as bridge owners and those who plan and commission new bridge projects.

The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting - LINK

PAS 2080 and supporting guidance - LINK

The pursuit of total design of bridges in the era of climate change - LINK

Low Carbon Concrete Group Market Benchmark - LINK