Nabers UK Energy for Office ratings are now formally recognised by the UK Net Zero Buildings Standard (UKNZBS), allowing certified ratings to be used as evidence of compliance with UKNZBS operational energy requirements for existing office buildings. Administered since 2024 by CIBSE Certification, the UK adaptation of the National Australian Built Environment Rating System has been aligned through joint technical work between CIBSE Certification and the UKNZBS team. The move gives owners, occupiers and investors a single, performance-based route to verify in-use energy performance against one of the UK’s most stringent net-zero benchmarks.

Western governments are adopting a “China-light” industrial strategy, pouring tens to hundreds of billions into defence, semiconductors and critical minerals via tools such as the US Defense Production Act, CHIPS and Science Act ($53 billion), and the EU’s €43 billion European Chips Act and Critical Raw Materials Act. China’s integrated model still dominates midstream capacity, refining 68% of global nickel, 73% of cobalt, 95% of manganese, all spherical graphite for battery anodes, and over 90% of rare earth processing and magnet production. For mining and materials players, the key shift is policy focus from new mines to midstream conversion capacity, long-term offtake-style defence contracts, and allied coordination of minerals and materials flows.

Chile’s Ministry of Health has formally authorised the use of copper slag as an artificial aggregate in infrastructure works, including road surfacing, turning a major smelting waste stream into a regulated construction input. The decree defines copper slag as a by-product of copper pyrometallurgy and allows its controlled use in pavements and other civil works, subject to health and environmental criteria. For Chilean miners and contractors, this opens a large-scale outlet for slag stockpiles and may alter aggregate sourcing, pavement design and leachate management practices.