Jointly published with the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP (CYMG), this report provides an updated analysis of global waste generation and management since 2018. The original Global Waste Management Outlook is a response to UNEP Resolutions 2/7 and 4/7, offering an updated assessment of global waste management. The report provides data analysis, explores different waste management scenarios, and evaluates their impacts on society, the environment, and the economy. It offers guidance for stakeholders, including multinational development banks, national governments, municipalities, the private sector, and citizens, with a particular focus on young people. Waste pollution poses significant risks to infants, children, and youth, affecting their health due to their developing bodies and vulnerable immune systems. Contamination from landfills and hazardous waste, along with inadequate waste management, increases the risk of respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal disorders, and developmental delays. Engaging youth in combating waste pollution is crucial, as they will face the long-term consequences of today’s waste management practices. The Youth Summary of the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 aims to equip young people with the knowledge and tools needed to address these challenges. By empowering youth, we can harness their energy, creativity, and commitment to drive transformative change and secure a healthier, more sustainable future for all. Further Resources: Global Waste Management Outlook 2024
The UK construction sector is undergoing a structural transformation as sustainability becomes integral to policy and practice. Government planning reforms embedding environmental sustainability in construction within the promise of 1.5 million new homes indicate that sustainable building design and eco‑design for buildings are no longer peripheral ambitions. By linking planning approval to detailed whole life carbon assessments and life cycle cost reviews, developers must now demonstrate measurable progress toward net zero whole life carbon housing delivery.
The shift toward circular economy in construction principles is tangible through mandatory Circular Economy Statements, which require proof of resource efficiency in construction and end‑of‑life reuse in construction. This marks a decisive move from voluntary reporting to quantifiable performance, reinforcing circular construction strategies that favour low carbon construction materials, renewable building materials and verified environmental product declarations (EPDs). Such accountability is reshaping how embodied carbon in materials and the total carbon footprint of construction are assessed across the supply chain.
Technical progress is matched by regulatory tightening. Enhanced enforcement by environmental authorities signals that compliance with carbon neutral construction standards and reduced environmental impact of construction is now a prerequisite for planning success. As breeam v7 and emerging lifecycle assessment frameworks evolve, decarbonising the built environment depends on integrating sustainable building practices with verifiable performance metrics.
Investment in human capital remains the defining constraint. The urgent demand for skilled labour in low‑carbon engineering and advanced manufacturing highlights the labour market’s pivotal role in achieving net zero carbon buildings and delivering scalable green construction. Training initiatives targeting welders, surveyors and engineers must underpin the expansion of low carbon building capacity and ensure that sustainable urban development can progress from aspiration to built reality.
The emerging consensus is that sustainable construction is defined by data‑driven outcomes—measured building lifecycle performance, accurate whole life carbon accounting and achievable carbon footprint reduction. The sector’s credibility hinges on whether policy, technology and people can sustain this momentum toward a resilient, low‑impact built environment.
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