Communication to Combat Forest Crime in the Lower Mekong and in China: A Handbook Based on the Findings of the Knowledge, Attitude, Practices Survey on Illegal Logging and Illegal Forest Trade in the Lower Mekong and in China

United Nations 2 years ago

The Lower Mekong region is rich in biodiversity and forests that are vital for carbon storage. But illegal logging and illegal trade worth billions of dollars each year are causing extensive deforestation and harm to its people, the environment and the economy. Programmatic interventions to counteract forest crime seek to reduce demand for illegal forest products and create sustainable supply chains. In this context, effective communications and behavioural strategies are critical. The KAP score model, used in this handbook, measures knowledge, attitude, and practice related to forest crime and provides a step-by-step guide for designing communications interventions and behavioural change strategies to address illegal logging, illegal trade and other serious threats to the region's lush forests. An online version of this handbook is accessible at: www.un-redd.org/kaphandbook
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 6 hours ago



Policy momentum in the UK is setting the direction for a new era of sustainable construction rooted in measurable carbon performance. Planning reforms proposing the delivery of 1.5 million homes signal an urgent balance between rapid development and low carbon design. The debate now hinges on whether the next generation of housing can achieve net zero whole life carbon without compromising affordability or urban resilience. This shift underscores the necessity of whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment across all stages of the built environment, from design to end-of-life reuse in construction.

The workforce transition is equally critical. Skills England’s forecast of 250,000 additional roles highlights that decarbonising the built environment demands not only policy innovation but also technical capability in sustainable building design, resource efficiency in construction and the specification of low embodied carbon materials. These skills will support the progression of carbon neutral construction and the integration of circular economy principles into procurement frameworks.

At the project level, the adoption of plug‑in battery systems and renewable building materials demonstrates how energy-efficient buildings are becoming active participants in grid stability. This evolution reflects a deeper commitment to environmental sustainability in construction through eco-design for buildings and sustainable material specification that minimises the carbon footprint of construction.

Across Europe, climate accountability is tightening. Corporate emissions scrutiny and extreme weather events reinforce the imperative for green construction that measures embodied carbon in materials and validates performance through environmental product declarations (EPDs) and BREEAM v7 certification. The convergence of sustainable design, circular construction strategies and life cycle cost analysis is making the environmental impact of construction transparent and quantifiable.

What was once an aspirational green agenda has become a framework for sustainable urban development guided by verifiable metrics of carbon footprint reduction and building lifecycle performance. The result is a global shift toward low impact, eco-friendly construction driven by evidence, regulation and innovation that embeds sustainability at the core of every design and decision.

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