In its 2024 annual report, the institution details its impact throughout the year, including the steps it's taken to reduce its carbon emissions and encourage others to do the same.
The ICE has shown how it is ‘walking the walk’ in reducing its carbon footprint and supporting the industry to follow in its steps.
In an impact report, published today, the ICE demonstrates it is “building the foundations for timely, ambitious climate action,” as ICE President Professor Jim Hall has said.
From qualifying thousands of new engineers to learning lessons from HS2 and organising over 2,000 STEM learning activities, the ICE has been working globally to deliver on its charitable aims.
These efforts, aimed at ensuring the world has the infrastructure systems it needs to enable our planet, and those who live on it, to thrive, wouldn’t be possible without the crucial support of ICE members.
“It cannot be understated how important our network of volunteers is in helping us to fulfil the ICE’s mission and our charitable aims,” said Dr Janet Young, ICE director general and secretary.
ICE annual report 2024
Learn more about what the ICE and its members did to deliver value to the membership and to the wider society last year.
Content type: Governance document
Last updated: 29 April 2025
'Showing leadership' in carbon management
PAS 2080
The ICE’s decarbonisation efforts in 2024 focused on supporting the adoption of PAS 2080, the carbon management publicly available specification (PAS).
Developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI), the standard is sponsored by the ICE so it’s freely available.
In 2024, the ICE took to the road to raise awareness of PAS 2080 and how it can be used to manage carbon in buildings and infrastructure.
Carbon experts ran workshops that explored regional case studies, attracting 2,000 attendees across the UK.
Climate action
Alongside its decarbonisation efforts, the ICE has taken steps to help the world adapt to climate change.
In December 2024, it began work with the BSI on a new PAS on this subject.
Low-carbon materials
In September 2024, the ICE and the BSI collaborated once more on a new code of practice to find sustainable alternatives to traditional concrete.
The updated version of the Flex standard is designed to highlight the potential of lower-carbon concrete options and recommend their use.
The ICE's carbon management plan
The ICE appointed consultant Useful Projects to develop its first carbon management plan, which also embeds PAS 2080 principles.
Following an analysis of the ICE’s carbon footprint, it identified five action areas for decarbonisation.
Four of these cover specific activities across the ICE Group’s operations, while the fifth addresses organisation-wide ‘enablers’, such as employee engagement.
One Great George Street works
In 2024, the ICE’s HQ, One Great George Street in London, underwent extensive refurbishment and maintenance works.
A key target was to improve its sustainability by taking measures such as:
- Installing double-glazing on the roof lights
- Replacing gas cookers with induction equipment
- Upgrading air handling units
The works – delivered in line with PAS 2080 principles – used the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Short Contract (ECSC) featuring an additional clause based on NEC X29 for carbon reduction.
Embedding the PAS 2080 principles within the ICE’s own operations has the real potential to deliver efficient carbon management across the group and demonstrate that we are serious about reducing our own carbon footprint.
Prof Jim Hall
Changing public behaviour
Among several policy programmes that ran across 2024, the ICE published a major report into the public behaviour changes needed to meet net zero.
It made recommendations on how policymakers can enable these changes.
The ICE worked with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure (APPGI) on this research programme.
Creating a sector that reflects society
Throughout 2024, the ICE championed inclusivity, working towards creating an infrastructure sector that is truly reflective of the society it services.
The ICE website and social media channels celebrated diversity across the year, as well as during events such as Black History Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, International Women in Engineering Day, and the International Day of People with Disabilities.
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