This follows a YouGov survey — commissioned by RICS — which revealed that 34% of real estate and construction workers believed that their employer was not doing enough to reduce its environmental impact.

Some 62% of respondents claimed that they did not feel that environmental sustainability was at the centre of their employer’s decision making.

Last year, RICS launched a Value the Planet campaign aimed at encouraging firms in the built environment sector to reduce their operational impact on the environment and consider the longer-term sustainability of their business decision making on society.

“We need a collaborative effort, especially from the built environment industry as it is a major contributor to the climate change problem,” claimed Dr Patrice Cairns, policy manager at RICS.

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What does the property development industry think?

Sophie Walker, head of sustainability in the UK at JLL, stated: “When it comes to making property more sustainable in the commercial market, there are just two refurbishment cycles left before the government’s net zero deadline in 2050.

“Our ambition is that JLL UK’s pioneering net zero carbon commitment will help to drive a transition in the industry in order to turn what is currently an ambition into a reality.”

Chris Ireland, CEO at JLL UK, added: “At JLL UK, we are aiming to be a catalyst for change for our clients, positioning ourselves as an established source of advice towards reaching a net zero carbon economy.”

Joseph Daniels, CEO at modular developer Project Etopia, commented: "…One of the most significant collaborative wins for the industry in the future will come not when developers collaborate with each other, but when the architectural industry marries its designs with the scope afforded by endlessly customisable panelised systems.

“Developers are not going to be able to change their building methods overnight, but more and more are turning to modern methods of construction (MMC), so you can expect the reduced environmental footprint of off-site construction to have more of an impact in this decade."