AtkinsRéalis as headline partner of the Decarbonising Transport Awards 2026

Simon Shapcott, Net Zero Director for Transportation at AtkinsRéalis

Simon Shapcott, Net Zero Director for Transportation at AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRéalis is delighted to be one of the headline partners for the Decarbonising Transport Awards 2026, a landmark initiative by Landor LINKS that celebrates bold leadership, innovation, and tangible progress in the journey to net zero. 

As a global leader in design, engineering, and project management, AtkinsRéalis is committed to engineering a better future for our planet and its people by shaping a future where transport infrastructure and operations is not only low carbon – but, climate resilient, inclusive, and built to last.

The awards, taking place in London on 27 March 2026, will spotlight the individuals, teams, and projects that are transforming how we move, connect, and thrive. For AtkinsRéalis, this partnership is more than sponsorship - it’s a statement of intent in our contribution to decarbonising transport.

It’s not just about reducing emissions in infrastructure and operations, it’s about redesigning infrastructure to withstand the climate of tomorrow. That means understanding climate risks, smarter planning, adapting design and adopting new materials 

Engineering Net Zero, together

AtkinsRéalis is at the forefront of transport decarbonisation and climate adaptation and resilience, helping clients across the UK and the globe benchmark existing emissions, plan decarbonisation strategies and anticipate, adapt, and recover from the growing impacts of climate change. From railways, roads, active transport and buses, to aviation and ports, the company’s end-to-end approach decarbonises and futureproofs transport systems and operations.

“Decarbonisation and resilience are two sides of the same coin, and they have mutual solutions, not least those that are nature based,” says Simon Shapcott, Net Zero Director for Transportation at AtkinsRéalis. “It’s not just about reducing emissions in infrastructure and operations, it’s about redesigning infrastructure to withstand the climate of tomorrow. That means understanding climate risks, smarter planning, adapting design and adopting new materials, while ensuring transport systems remain safe, reliable and can recover quickly when extreme weather events do occur.”

Turning risks into opportunities

We understand the broader interlinked challenges that impact on local authorities ability to deliver decarbonised, reliable and resilient transport systems. AtkinsRéalis responds to these challenges with data-driven strategies that turn risks into opportunities.

There are clear rewards for taking this approach, in the short term, less carbon means less cost through lean design, in the long term adaptation then reduces maintenance, renewal and insurance costs. Every £1 spent on adaptation returns up to £10 in future savings. That’s not just smart economics—it’s responsible leadership.

Celebrating what works

The Decarbonising Transport Awards are a vital platform to showcase what’s working, and inspire others to act. AtkinsRéalis has delivered decarbonisation and climate resilience strategies across a wide range of projects, including:

• Gloucestershire County Council – delivering a tailored routemap that identifies a range of measures that will support the Avoid, Shift and Improve changes needed to close the emissions gap for car travel.

• National Highways – where we are working to reduce carbon footprints and trial of low-carbon and resilient materials, including review of existing specifications and standards.

• West Midlands Combined Authority – where we’ve supported the development of their new Local Transport Plan, incorporating a carbon pathway strategy and potential policy interventions to meet their ambitions and development of a decarbonisation route map.

• Staffordshire County Council -  AtkinsRéalis have delivered a project to assess both transport emissions and the embodied carbon of the county’s transport infrastructure programme, and make recommendations on how the county’s transport programme would need to evolve to meet these decarbonisation challenges.

• Lancashire County Council - our award winning work in Lancashire provided a quantified trajectory for carbon reduction, aligned with authority Net Zero targets.

These projects demonstrate how transport decarbonisation can be practical, scalable, and deeply impactful.

A call to collaborate

AtkinsRéalis believes decarbonisation and resilience are a team sport. Their work brings together engineers, economists, environmentalists, planners, and communities to co-create solutions that are technically sound and socially valuable. Whether it’s training frontline staff, aligning stakeholders, or advising on sustainable finance, the company is helping clients build capability and confidence.

“We’re here to empower,” says Simon. “To help organisations understand the interdependences when it comes to climate change and decarbonisation: allowing them to take joint action”

Looking ahead

As headline partner of the Decarbonising Transport Awards 2026, AtkinsRéalis is excited to celebrate the future-makers; those who are driving change with courage, creativity, and commitment. The awards will honour excellence across categories including active travel, public transport, freight, digital innovation, and behaviour change.

For AtkinsRéalis, it’s about more than recognition. It’s about momentum. About showing what’s possible when we engineer with purpose, plan with foresight, and act with urgency.

Net Zero Carbon. Net Zero Excuses.

To learn more about AtkinsRéalis’ decarbonisation, climate adaptation and resilience services, visit engineeringnetzero.com or contact Simon Shapcott