AECOM's Laura Ducamp works to support decarbonization efforts

AECOM's People Spotlight series provides an inside look at the company's technical experts around the world.

Meet AECOM Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Practice Lead from AECOM's Environment business in France, Laura Ducamp.

Laura is a sustainability expert from Bordeaux in France, and has supported clients worldwide - from Papua New Guinea to China, India and Mexico - in their decarbonization efforts.

Learn more about how Laura's advancing the energy transition, her inspirations and AECOM career.

Working on environmental, social and economic projects

With over 11 years of experience in the energy sector, Laura has developed a diverse range of sustainability skills, focusing on social impact. Currently, she coordinates AECOM's ESG scope of services in France, specializing in ESG performance and ratings, sustainability strategies, renewable energy technologies, environmental, social and human rights auditing, environmental and social international standards, and sustainable procurement.

Laura’s experience covers a wide range of projects and programs at different scales and geographies, including Papua New Guinea, China, India and Mexico. Throughout her career, she has has an involvement in international projects on environmental, social and economic development aspects.

Adapting society to better preserve the environment

Laura explains that she has always been deeply convinced of the need to adapt societies to better preserve the environment, and has always wanted to work towards this goal.

"Having always worked in large, well-structured companies in the field of sustainability (Total, EDF Renewables and EDF Group), I have observed the growing prominence of ESG issues and requirements for many years. The increasing complexity of this regulatory framework, coupled with the proliferation of stakeholders and ESG approaches, poses a real challenge for all companies, regardless of their size," says Laura.

"I have experience working with sustainability teams at major energy companies. Joining AECOM was a natural step for me, aligning with my desire to engage more closely with business issues in an international environment, to support both global and local companies in their sustainable transition, as well as continuing to develop sustainable practices internally. The advantage of consultancy work is that we acquire a tremendous amount of knowledge each day, the tasks are always varied, and we are able to stay thoroughly informed about societal developments."

Supporting clients in decarbonization efforts

As a sustainability expert, Laura shares that it is hugely satisfying to see the current shift in corporate reporting to integrate environmental and societal impacts of their operations, and that helping organizations on this journey is very rewarding.

"Supporting clients in decarbonizing their projects and assets — from field audits to net zero roadmaps, including energy consumption calculations and practical recommendations — is the most fulfilling work for me as it contributes in a very pragmatic and measured way to the necessary climate transition," comments Laura.

"To cite just one example, for one client we recommended an innovative energy-saving method, involving the application of a bio-based white paint on their building’s roof. This reduced the cooling needs and made it possible to install bifacial photovoltaic panels, significantly increasing solar energy production through sunlight reflection on the white surface. This solution also offered the advantage of causing less wear on air conditioning systems installed on the roofs, thanks to lower air exchange temperatures, and extended the lifespan of the roof coating by ten years compared to traditional solutions."

"I’ve also recently led an ESG monitoring project as part of a client’s data center development initiative. At the very beginning of the project, and with a multidisciplinary team, it was highly informative and constructive to analyze the key challenges of this rapidly growing sector. We were able to provide practical environmental and societal analysis, and recommendations that guided the client in their decision-making before the conceptual stages of the project progressed, and where most of the impacts can be mitigated. For example, we recommended recovering the fatal heat that otherwise is dispersed in its environment, combating electricity waste (Power Usage Effectiveness), supply from renewable energies, and even provided a guideline to lead stakeholder engagement," Laura adds.

AECOM's colleagues are reducing their impact on the climate

A significant part of AECOM's activities are related to the environmental, building and construction sectors. Together, these sectors contribute to nearly 40 percent of global CO2 emissions and represent one of the priority sectors for necessary decarbonization. It is therefore crucial for AECOM's employees to be aware of the climate issues and to collectively explore concrete ways to reduce their impact.

"My team and I have been involved in raising awareness through the Climate Fresk NGO, which was established in France and runs climate related education workshops," explains Laura.

"This powerful network now has a global community of 1.6 million ‘Freskers’ raising awareness on the challenges of climate transition. Educating and empowering people to act, both at professional and personal levels, is key. Across AECOM’s France and Benelux teams, we aim to train more than 200 employees in two to three years, alongside our annual training on Sustainable Legacies, our global ESG strategy."

Importance of discussing ESG performance

As a piece of career advice, Laura says that with determination, nothing is impossible, especially in the field of sustainability.

"It may take time, but when one is convinced of the value of an action, both for the environment and for our clients, interests often align. The key is to explain it clearly for it to come to fruition, and the art lies as much in the substance as in the form! We are currently at the tipping point where the notion of ESG is considered alongside the financial aspects of a company’s performance. To provide our clients with the best possible support, it’s now necessary to discuss ESG performance on all types of projects, and to incorporate these concepts at all levels," Laura shares.

"For example, we were able to strongly encourage certain clients to engage in a voluntary consultation process or to conduct a decarbonization study on a building’s structure, which had not initially been considered. Our clients were very satisfied as these actions proved successful, reducing the project’s reputational risks and even significantly lowering its cost," concludes Laura.