The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS) Conference 2026, recently brought together professionals from across the built environment to explore how the Standard is moving the sector from net zero ambition towards measurable, verifiable action.
Hosted by CIBSE at The Royal Society in London, the conference provided an opportunity for industry leaders, practitioners and stakeholders to examine the latest developments following the launch of the UKNZCBS, share early implementation experiences and discuss how the Standard is shaping the transition to net zero carbon buildings.
The UKNZCBS is the first cross-industry Standard to provide a common definition of what constitutes a net zero carbon building in the UK. The conference focused on how organisations can use the Standard to align projects, portfolios and strategies, while also addressing the practical challenges of implementation, verification and industry adoption.
Opening the conference, Dr Julie Godefroy, Head of Net Zero Policy at CIBSE, welcomed delegates and highlighted the importance of collaboration across the built environment to ensure the Standard supports meaningful progress towards net zero.
David Partridge, Chair of UKNZCBS, delivered the keynote address, reflecting on the development of the Standard and its role in providing greater clarity and consistency for the industry.
Katie Clemence-Jackson, CEO of UKNZCBS, provided an update following the Standard’s launch, outlining key developments and the next steps for its implementation.
Exploring alignment, verification and adoption
The conference programme explored the key areas that will determine the success of the Standard, including alignment with other industry frameworks, verification processes, communication and data requirements, and practical adoption across different building types and sectors.
The session on the Standards ecosystem and alignment examined how the UKNZCBS interacts with existing standards and initiatives. Chaired by Amrita Dasgupta, Head of ESG & Net Zero at Greengage, the session featured contributions from Fabrizio Varriale, Place & Space Analyst at RICS; Will South from etude; and Jess Hrivnak, Practice Technical Adviser (Sustainability) at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
Speakers discussed the importance of ensuring consistency between different standards, improving understanding across the sector and supporting professionals in applying the Standard effectively.
A dedicated session on verification explored how confidence in net zero claims can be strengthened through robust processes, reliable data and transparent evaluation. Chaired by Dr Julie Godefroy - Head of Net Zero at CIBSE, contributions came from Chris Jockel of Bureau Veritas, Sam Wallis, Director of Energy & Net Zero Strategy at Envisioneco Ltd, and Simon Wyatt, Partner, Sustainability at Cundall.
The session highlighted the importance of verification in ensuring that net zero performance is demonstrated through evidence and real-world outcomes.
Supporting industry adoption
The final session focused on industry adoption, exploring how organisations are beginning to apply the Standard in practice.
Chaired by David Partridge, the session included insights from Ruth Marsh, Head of Sustainability – South at Waterman Group, who shared experience from the 38 Finsbury Square project, and Ellie Burkill, Senior Sustainability Consultant at XCO2, who discussed approaches to projects progressing towards alignment with the Standard.
The discussions reinforced that successful adoption will require collaboration across the entire built environment value chain, from designers and engineers to clients, contractors and operators.
The conference was supported by sponsors including Mitsubishi Electric, Qvantum, Rinnai and Optimise AI, whose contributions helped bring together industry expertise and accelerate conversations around net zero carbon buildings.
A shared pathway towards net zero buildings
The conference demonstrated the growing momentum behind the UKNZCBS and the importance of a shared industry approach to delivering net zero carbon buildings.
Through bringing together expertise from across the sector, the event provided valuable insight into how the Standard is being implemented, the challenges that remain and the opportunities to accelerate progress.
CIBSE will continue to support members and the wider industry as the UKNZCBS develops, providing expertise, guidance and collaboration to help deliver a safer, more sustainable and higher-performing built environment.