Climate change is one of the most urgent political issues of our time, and it is now broadly acknowledged that radical change is needed to the way we live. The built environment sector must play an important role in addressing climate change, being responsible for circa 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint. But change is underway and the public sector is leading the way, with over half of local authorities in the UK having declared a climate emergency. Such political declarations are ambitious and timely, but they now must be translated into effective policy and on-the-ground change.