The information found within this e-course builds on UNEP's Green and Sustainable Chemistry Framework Manual. The e-course was developed by UNEP in collaboration with UNITAR, in consultation with experts from industry, academia, government, international organizations and NGO’s. The overall aim of the e-course is to unveil the full potential of chemistry such that it is compatible with, and supports, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It aims to teach learners “what” Green and Sustainable Chemistry is, “why” it is needed, “what” it aims to achieve and “how” stakeholders can achieve a transformation towards its underlying vision. The course is targeted at national chemicals officials and education institutions but does not require specialised chemical knowledge and is intended to be of interest to a broad range of sectors and stakeholders along the chemical value chain from chemicals design, production and use to final disposal. After taking the course, participants will be able to: Understand what Green and Sustainable Chemistry is. Describe the 10 Objectives and Guiding Considerations for Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Understand the roles different stakeholders can play to advance Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Discuss how educators can advance Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Understand the links between chemistry and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and how the 10 Objectives can advance circularity. Explain the potential of Green and Sustainable Chemistry to drive sustainability in different sectors of the economy. Describe key policies, tools and instruments that can be used to foster an enabling environment for Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Understand the importance of metrics and reporting for monitoring and measuring impact.
UK public funding is set to reshape housebuilding through the £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme, with £10bn now allocated to deliver 73,600 homes over the next decade and a record £350m for Stonewater. RICS’ support highlights the need for procurement that mandates whole life carbon assessment, transparent reporting of embodied carbon and life cycle cost, so new social housing aligns with net zero whole life carbon rather than locking in high‑emitting assets.
Logistics is moving to measurable standards. LCBI has extended pan‑European whole life carbon certification to logistics assets in ten countries, giving investors comparable metrics that reward low carbon design, lower embodied carbon in materials and better operational performance. The approach strengthens lifecycle assessment, environmental product declarations (epds), circular economy in construction and end‑of‑life reuse in construction, improving building lifecycle performance and resource efficiency in construction.
Retrofit remains the fastest route to carbon footprint reduction. A new study indicates that modernising ageing lifts could save about 465 GWh annually—electricity for roughly 130,000 homes—showing that targeted upgrades to building systems can outperform new builds on pure carbon arithmetic. Portfolio‑wide programmes built on sustainable building practices, eco‑design for buildings and rigorous life cycle cost analysis can scale these savings across energy‑efficient buildings.
Climate risk is now a design variable. The UK has experienced meteorological, soil‑moisture and river‑flow droughts this year, and international transport authorities warn that wildfires are straining networks and require multiple evacuation routes. Planning and sustainable building design must embed resilience within environmental sustainability in construction, aligning green construction with net zero carbon buildings and carbon neutral construction across sustainable urban development.
- Tie public capital to procurement that requires whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment and life cycle cost disclosure, with targets for embodied carbon and net zero whole life carbon, using breeam and breeam v7 as reference frameworks.
- Prioritise retrofits that deliver predictable reductions in the carbon footprint of construction and operation across portfolios of energy‑efficient buildings, adopting sustainable material specification and green building products supported by environmental product declarations (epds).
- Use logistics and social housing pipelines as testbeds for circular economy and circular construction strategies, maximising resource efficiency in construction, end‑of‑life reuse in construction and the use of low carbon construction materials, low embodied carbon materials, green building materials and renewable building materials.
- Embed resilience‑by‑design in sustainable design and sustainable construction to accelerate decarbonising the built environment with low‑impact construction, low carbon building and green infrastructure.
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