The BREEAM Strategic Development and Approvals team are responsible for upholding the technical rigour of each of the BREEAM schemes and ensuring consistency of approach. The team are also responsible for the science base and research that sits behind BREEAM. In 2018, the team were responsible for conducting a review of the BREEAM family of standards and tool and their relationship to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The 17 SDGs apply to all countries with the aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030 as part of a new sustainable development agenda. To achieve the SDGs, all aspects of society, from government to the private sector to the general public, will need to play their part. The construction and property sector will have an essential role in delivering the SDGs and their associated targets, given the significant economic, environmental and social impacts and benefits associated with construction products, buildings and infrastructure throughout their lifecycles.

The review found that BREEAM currently supports the SDGs in a number of ways. But there is always potential to do more! As we look to 2019 and the years to come, we will continue to evolve the BREEAM family of standards and tools to enable significant contributions towards meeting the SDGs.