A SUSTAINABILITY expert has called on the UK to show leadership on climate change and “walk the walk”.

It comes after Rob Diamond, from Colchester-based property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood, was shortlisted for a national energy award.

Mr Diamond is in contention to be crowned Lockdown Energy Champion of the Year at the Energy Awards 2021 after achieving a hat trick of “excellent” BREEAM ratings for new school buildings in Essex.

The work has resulted in a double shortlisting for Ingleton Wood with the practice also vying to win the Energy Efficient Partnership of the Year award with utility company Engie.

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BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method used in construction.

It comes after the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned humans are unequivocally driving global warming in a new stark report calling for immediate action.

Mr Diamond, who has worked in sustainability for more than two decades, said: “I’m honoured to receive national recognition for our sustainability work.

“It’s even more humbling to see your hard work pay off in such difficult times.

“But this isn’t a time to celebrate, with the IPCC report painting a stark picture. We’ve gone past the tipping point. The damage is already done.

“We can’t escape the consequences.

“We need radical action at a time of crisis, not just political rhetoric. The UK must become global leaders in sustainability.

“We all know the real CO2 emitters are China and India, but we can show leadership and exemplify what can really be achieved with a green recovery and transformation from the pandemic.

“We’ve got the technology and the resources, and with COP26 just round the corner, we can’t just talk the talk anymore. It’s time to start walking the walk.”

The two-year projects behind the Colchester firm’s double shortlisting were carried out at Uphall Primary School and Gearies Primary School, both in Ilford, and Mayfield School, Dagenham.

New teaching blocks were designed and built to expand capacity and meet rising demand.