Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment

Measure whole-life carbon emissions, manage carbon budgets, reduce life cycle emissions and deliver a net-zero future for the built environment by adopting the RICS whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) standard. A world-leading and award-winning standard for consistent and accurate carbon measurement in the built environment, WLCA presents tangible opportunities for you in your work.

The standard equips assessors with the right skills and knowledge for completing consistent and accurate carbon measurements. By using the standard and the supporting materials and guides, you can offer new value-adding services such as integrated early cost and carbon advice, and pathways to decarbonisation at the asset and portfolio level, to your clients and other stakeholders. By giving visibility to embodied carbon, operational carbon and user carbon – a unique feature of this standard – a comprehensive and consistent approach can be used for decision making.

In full effect since 1 July 2024, RICS members need to follow the standard’s requirements when completing a whole life carbon assessment. This includes recording any deviations from the standard.