CLEAR is a global initiative designed to harmonise whole-life carbon reporting and measurement across the global built environment.
CLEAR is being launched at the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit held on April 20-22, 2026, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Huge share of carbon emissions come from the built environment
Human-generated carbon emissions remain a major driver of environmental, social and economic challenges, including rising global temperatures and biodiversity loss.
The built environment accounts for around 21% of these emissions, encompassing both embodied and operational carbon.
Despite growing recognition of the need for whole-life carbon measurement, fragmented and inconsistent methodologies continue to make it difficult for industry and policymakers to compare results, benchmark performance and make informed decisions.
A more consistent and trusted approach to whole-life carbon reporting
Bringing together leading organisations from across the sector, CLEAR has been established to create a more consistent and trusted approach to whole-life carbon reporting.
This will improve confidence in carbon data and support faster progress towards decarbonisation targets.
The initiative will analyse existing approaches, identify points of difference and develop a globally relevant framework for whole-life carbon assessment and reporting.
It will also support the sector through practical tools, technical resources and an online platform designed to build capability and encourage adoption.
“The choices we make now will impact generations to come. The CLEAR initiative is a timely measure that will create shared trust, inspire confidence in carbon reporting, and empower the sector to shape a resilient, low-carbon future,” explained Nick Maclean, RICS president.
Close industry collaboration makes CLEAR possible
RICS is a founder of the coalition and will play a leading role in delivering the initiative alongside its co-founders, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Global Building Data Initiative (GBDI), as well as sponsor Autodesk.
It will work with key industry collaborators, including AECOM, Arcadis, Autodesk, Avison Young, Heidelberg Materials, Morgan Sindall, Once For All, OneClickLCA, Turner and Townsend, and we2sure.
The coalition builds on existing industry leadership and recognised standards, including RICS’ whole-life carbon assessment guidance, the International Cost Management Standards, and the International Property Measurement Standards.
It also draws on RICS’ experience in supporting data transparency through initiatives such as the Built Environment Carbon Database.
A harmonised global framework for whole-life carbon reporting and assessment
CLEAR is intended to bring together organisations from across the value chain, including standard setters, industry coalitions, developers and owners, manufacturers, software providers, investors and specialists in carbon measurement and reporting.
Through this collaborative model, the coalition aims to strengthen trust in whole-life carbon reporting practices and help support public-interest outcomes through greater consistency and transparency.
In its first year, CLEAR will focus on coalition-building, analysing existing whole-life carbon assessment methodologies, and developing resources for both industry and policy stakeholders.
The long-term ambition is to support a harmonised global framework that enables more effective reporting, stronger benchmarking and more confident carbon-related decision-making across the built environment.
