RICS launches CLEAR initiative to align whole life carbon reporting across construction

A new global initiative to standardise whole life carbon reporting across the built environment has been launched by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), in partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Global Building Data Initiative (GBDI).

The Coalition for Life Cycle Emissions Alignment and Reporting (CLEAR) addresses a persistent industry constraint — inconsistent methodologies that limit comparability, slow decision-making, and reduce confidence in carbon data across projects, portfolios, and geographies.

For architects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturers, the implications are direct. Without aligned methodologies, benchmarking carbon performance across projects remains unreliable, procurement decisions lack consistency, and compliance pathways become fragmented.

Why whole life carbon reporting requires alignment now

The buildings and construction sector contributes approximately 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet measurement approaches vary widely across regions and standards, limiting the ability to compare outcomes or scale decarbonisation strategies.

This fragmentation is reflected in industry data. The One Click LCA 2025 Carbon Experts Report highlights that 85% of AEC professionals cite lack of regulation and standardisation as a primary barrier to life cycle assessment adoption, while data gaps and inconsistent Environmental Product Declaration availability further constrain progress.

CLEAR addresses this gap directly - not by replacing existing standards, but by aligning them.

What CLEAR delivers for practitioners and decision-makers

CLEAR is structured as a three-year initiative focused on practical outputs for both industry and policy stakeholders:

• A globally aligned framework for whole life carbon measurement and reporting
• Tools to enable comparison across methodologies such as EN 15978, Level(s), and RICS WLCA
• Technical workstreams delivering region-specific guidance and implementation support
• A digital platform to host tools, insights, and reporting resources

For practitioners, this translates into three immediate benefits:

1. Comparable carbon data across projects and regions
Aligned methodologies enable consistent benchmarking - critical for procurement, design optimisation, and portfolio-level decision-making.

2. Reduced reporting friction and duplication
Harmonisation reduces the need to reinterpret or remap data across standards - lowering time spent on compliance and reporting.

3. Increased confidence in carbon disclosures
Standardised approaches improve trust among investors, regulators, and clients - supporting integration of life cycle carbon into policy and procurement.

The role of data, EPDs, and scalable LCA

Whole life carbon reporting depends on reliable product-level data. EPDs remain a primary input for material-level carbon assessment, enabling comparison of products based on standardised life cycle methodologies.

However, fragmented data and inconsistent methodologies reduce their effectiveness at scale.

As a CLEAR collaborator, One Click LCA contributes expertise in scaling life cycle assessment and Environmental Product Declaration workflows across global supply chains, enabling:

• Integration of product-level data into project-level assessments
• Automated, standards-aligned LCA modeling across 140+ methodologies
• Access to over 500,000 datasets to support consistent material comparisons

This aligns directly with CLEAR’s objective, making carbon data usable, comparable, and actionable across the value chain.

“We are pleased to support the CLEAR initiative. The industry does not lack just data - it lacks alignment. Without consistent methodologies, you cannot compare results, and without comparability, you cannot scale decarbonisation. CLEAR addresses this by aligning how whole life carbon is measured and reported - enabling move from data to decision-making.” - Panu Pasanen, CEO and Founder of One Click LCA 

Supporting regulatory and market alignment

CLEAR arrives as regulatory pressure increases globally. In Europe, frameworks such as the Construction Products Regulation, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation are shifting life cycle assessment from voluntary practice to compliance requirement.

For manufacturers, this means verified environmental data is becoming a condition for market access. For AEC professionals, it means whole life carbon reporting is becoming embedded in permitting, procurement, and financing decisions.

CLEAR provides the missing layer - alignment across these frameworks.

Frequently asked questions

What is CLEAR and why does it matter?

CLEAR - the Coalition for Life Cycle Emissions Alignment and Reporting - is a global initiative led by RICS to align how whole life carbon is measured and reported across buildings and infrastructure. It matters because inconsistent methodologies limit comparability, slow decision-making, and reduce confidence in carbon data across projects and regions.

What problem does CLEAR solve?

Today, multiple standards and methodologies produce different results for the same project. This fragmentation makes benchmarking difficult and reduces trust in reported carbon outcomes. CLEAR addresses this by aligning existing approaches - enabling consistent, comparable results.

Who should pay attention to CLEAR?

Architects, engineers, contractors, sustainability consultants, product manufacturers, policymakers, and investors - anyone responsible for measuring, reporting, or acting on carbon data in the built environment.

Does CLEAR replace existing standards?

No. CLEAR does not replace standards such as EN 15978 or existing whole life carbon assessment frameworks. It aligns them - enabling transparent comparison and consistent interpretation across methodologies.

How does CLEAR improve whole life carbon reporting?

CLEAR develops a harmonised framework, technical guidance, and practical tools that allow practitioners to:

• Compare results across different methodologies
• Reduce time spent translating between standards
• Increase confidence in carbon data used for design, procurement, and compliance

What role do Environmental Product Declarations play?

Environmental Product Declarations provide standardised product-level environmental data based on life cycle assessment. They are critical inputs to whole life carbon assessments - enabling consistent material comparison and more accurate project-level reporting.

How does CLEAR support regulatory compliance?

Regulations such as the Construction Products Regulation and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive increasingly require life cycle carbon data. CLEAR helps align reporting practices - making it easier to meet regulatory requirements across different markets.

What is the role of One Click LCA in CLEAR?

One Click LCA participates as a collaborator, contributing expertise in scaling life cycle assessment and Environmental Product Declaration workflows. This supports the development of practical tools and aligned methodologies that can be applied across projects and product portfolios.

What outcomes can the industry expect?

Improved comparability of carbon data, reduced reporting friction, and stronger confidence in decision-making - enabling faster and more consistent progress toward decarbonisation targets.