RICS Launches CLEAR Coalition to Standardize Whole-Life Carbon Reporting Worldwide

The built environment accounts for roughly 40 % of global energy‑related CO₂ emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. Yet current methods for calculating embodied and operational carbon vary widely, making cross‑border comparison difficult. CLEAR seeks to close that gap by bringing together standard setters, industry groups, developers, manufacturers, software firms, and investors.

- RICS president Nick Maclean said CLEAR will build trust, boost confidence in carbon reporting, and help the sector achieve a low‑carbon future. - WBCSD director Roland Hunziker added that CLEAR will provide blueprints to scale whole‑life carbon approaches, ensuring consistency and comparability as market adoption grows. - The coalition announced its launch at the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit held April 20-22, 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland. - Founding members include RICS, WBCSD, the Global Building Data Initiative (GBDI), and sponsor Autodesk, with collaborators such as AECOM, Arcadis, Heidelberg Materials, Morgan Sindall, Turner & Townsend, and OneClickLCA. - CLEAR will draw on existing RICS whole‑life carbon assessment guidance, the International Cost Management Standards, and the International Property Measurement Standards, as well as the Built Environment Carbon Database for data transparency. - In its first year (12 months) the group will focus on coalition building, analysing current methodologies, and creating practical resources. Its long‑term goal is to deliver a harmonised global framework that enables reliable benchmarking and decision‑making across the sector.

By establishing a common language for whole‑life carbon, CLEAR aims to reduce reporting discrepancies, improve investor confidence, and support policymakers in setting effective decarbonisation targets. The initiative’s emphasis on open tools and an online platform should lower barriers for firms of all sizes to adopt consistent practices. Stakeholders can expect clearer data for comparing projects, which may accelerate the uptake of low‑carbon materials and designs.