Join the SiLC Climate Change & Sustainability Sub-group
The SiLC Climate Change & Sustainability Sub-group has been launched to embed sustainability and climate resilience into the development of not just post-industrial brownfield land, but the wider built environment. Its mission is to raise awareness and foster the skills needed to transform how we approach land development delivering benefits such as improved soil health, enhanced biodiversity, and greater resilience to climate change and extreme weather events.
Specialists in Land Condition (SiLCs) have a pivotal role to play in this transformation. Beyond reducing emissions from brownfield regeneration and embedding sustainability and net zero principles, SiLCs are key to restoring the vital ecosystem services we all depend on; from clean water and carbon capture to flood prevention and food production. Central to this is understanding land condition and how it underpins nature-based solutions that can mitigate flooding, sequester carbon, enhance green spaces, and even support renewable energy generation, such as ground source heat.
Working closely with SiLC’s constituent professional institutions, the Sub-group draws upon the collective expertise of the brownfield development community and beyond. Its goal is to build the capacity of SiLCs to embed sustainable development practices into every stage of site management and regeneration.
The group is co-chaired by Claire Dickinson and Mark Hill, who are leading efforts to mobilise SiLCs and collaborate across disciplines to drive change.
The urgency of this work cannot be overstated. Outcomes from Climate COP27 and Biodiversity COP15 have made it clear that both climate change and biodiversity loss pose systemic risks that affect every aspect of our lives; from extreme weather events to food security and even the financial systems underpinning our pensions. Addressing these interconnected crises represents both a generation-defining challenge and a tremendous opportunity. Continuing with business as usual is no longer an option.
If you are a registered SiLC and would like to get involved or if you represent an organisation interested in collaborating with the Sub-group, please contact SiLC@Silc.org.uk
Together, we can embed sustainability into the heart of brownfield development and help build a resilient, climate-conscious future.