Nature across the lifecycle: Rethinking how we design, build and renew

Exploring the ways in which nature can support decarbonisation, resilience and market value at every stage of the built environment lifecycle - from material sourcing, to design and natural capital accounting, to investment and delivery at scale. 

You will notice a common thread throughout these presentations and discussions: Nature delivers value across the lifecycle: from material sourcing to recognising ecosystem services to building investable, low-carbon, nature-led places. 

Moderator Welcome & Framing – Emily Hallworth, Manager, ESG Programmes, ULI Europe 

Speaker 1 – Joe Giddings, European Networks Lead, Built by Nature 

Why designing and building with responsibly sourced, biobased materials is beneficial for the planet and people. Principles for ensuring carbon benefit, biodiversity protection, and supply chain transparency. Examples of timber and other biobased solutions. 

Speaker 2 – Nature as Infrastructure: Designing Cities for Resilience and Wellbeing - John Tayleur, Europe Business Leader for Nature & Biodiversity Solutions, Arup 

How natural capital approaches quantify and capture the benefits of nature-based design. Examples of projects that integrate nature to absorb carbon, reduce overheating, manage stormwater, and support biodiversity. Practical tools for recognising and valuing ecosystem services. 

Speaker 3 – Low-carbon is the actual best-seller - Laurence Desmazières, Managing Partner, ICAWOOD

 Case Study of Arboretum, Europe’s largest engineered timber office development and host location of the C Change Summit. Lessons on finding the right partners and customers for such a large, low carbon project: from financing and development to construction and leasing. Demonstrating the business case: carbon reduction, biodiversity, wellbeing, and investor value. 

Panel Discussion & Q&A