Sustainability

Responding to the Climate Challenge

Ground engineering sits at the heart of how we build our world—and increasingly, at the heart of how we must change it. From the carbon footprint of foundations and piling to the resilience of infrastructure in the face of extreme weather, geotechnical professionals face both a profound challenge and opportunity in the age of climate change.

Decarbonisation, loss of biodiversity, water conservation, wellbeing and economic stability all fall within the scope of sustainability. It is bringing new and urgent requirements that are in turn shaping policy, procurement, and practice across the built environment. For our sector, this means rethinking materials, methods, and the long-term performance of the ground-related systems we design and deliver. As a carbon intensive sector, it means understanding the carbon cost of our work—and exploring new ways to reduce it. And it means ensuring the ground engineering profession plays its full role in building a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.

Our professional carbon footprints — the impact of what we design, build, and research is far greater than our personal one — and with that comes the privilege and opportunity to reduce carbon emissions at scale.

Industry Response: A Growing Focus

Across the geotechnical and wider ground engineering community, professional and membership organisations are actively developing their responses to sustainability and climate action:

• The British Geotechnical Association (BGA) has incorporated sustainability into its events, publications, and awards, encouraging knowledge-sharing and technical innovation.
• The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has published guidance on carbon management and low-carbon design, with implications for ground engineering practices.
• The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) has launched initiatives to measure and reduce embodied carbon in piling solutions, including through life-cycle analysis tools.
• The British Drilling Association (BDA) and other specialist bodies are beginning to map out sustainability strategies tailored to their members’ roles and operations.
• The Geological Society revised the competency criteria for Chartered Geologist (CGeol) in 2023 to incorporate sustainability, which encompasses understanding environmental and social impacts; balancing economic development with environmental protection and social equity; minimising negative impacts; promoting resource efficiency; and fostering regenerative outcomes.

These efforts reflect a growing recognition that sustainability must be embedded across all levels of the profession—from procurement and design through to site practices and materials choices.

A Shared Platform: The Ground Forum Sustainability Group

To support and accelerate this momentum, the Ground Forum has established a Sustainability Group—a cross-industry platform bringing together representatives from member organisations to:

• Share insights and emerging best practice
• Coordinate messaging and reduce duplication
• Identify opportunities for joint guidance, standards, or data collection
• Foster innovation in sustainable ground engineering methods and tools

By convening this group, Ground Forum aims to create a common space for dialogue and collaboration—ensuring that ground engineering speaks with a more unified, informed, and proactive voice on sustainability and climate resilience.

Should you wish to join the Sustainability group please get in touch and email: GForum@ground-forum.org.uk