The Montevideo Programme V secretariat has developed this digital handbook that highlights the Programme’s objectives, activities and outcomes in order to raise awareness and enhance understanding of the Programme by Governments and relevant stakeholders. This will create a strong and recognizable brand for the Programme and serve as a guide that strengthens the role of Government officials and other users in the further development and implementation of its priority areas. The handbook will be included on the UNEP Law and Environment Assistance Platform (UNEP-LEAP), the digital backbone of the Montevideo V Programme. The handbook is divided into five parts. Part I provides a brief overview, history and achievements of the Montevideo Programme. It then outlines the key features of the Montevideo Programme V highlighting how it is different from previous iterations as well as its articulation with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Part II of the handbook analyses and provides information on the existing legal responses at international and national levels to the three agreed thematic priority areas for implementation under the Montevideo Programme V, that is, the climate change crisis, the pollution crisis, and the biodiversity and nature loss crisis. It underlines the interconnectedness between the three thematic priorities areas and identifies the opportunities and potential contribution of the Programme in assisting Governments to respond to the crises. Part III provides information on how Governments can access support under the Programme, the types of support available, and resource requirements and sources of finance. Part IV addresses the critical issue of partnerships and stakeholder engagement. It highlights the significant emphasis the Programme places on the role of partners and major groups in the conception, delivery and implementation of activities. Part V provides information on existing resources on environmental law both within and outside UNEP with a view to enabling Governments and stakeholders to build and strengthen capacities in this field.
The drive to decarbonise the built environment continues to redefine sustainable construction, with pioneering projects demonstrating that environmental sustainability in construction can align with operational excellence. Sweden’s EcoDataCenter 1, operating entirely on renewable energy, has become a model for low carbon design within high-demand infrastructure. Its reliance on hydropower, local solar generation and wind integration shows how data centres can achieve measurable reductions in the carbon footprint of construction when whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment are embedded from outset to operation. The development sets a benchmark for net zero whole life carbon strategies in energy-intensive facilities, redefining expectations for low carbon building performance.
The Urban Land Institute is reinforcing its commitment to decarbonising the built environment through its Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability. The organisation’s new appointments signal a deeper adoption of sustainable building practices that link policy and practical application, promoting whole life carbon and life cycle cost transparency across portfolios. By prioritising embodied carbon in materials and encouraging standardised environmental product declarations (EPDs), the Institute is pushing for data-driven methods of evaluating the environmental impact of construction and improving building lifecycle performance. Such leadership is essential for realising resource efficiency in construction and embedding circular construction strategies as standard business practice.
At Nottingham Trent University, the Bolsover Net Zero Innovation Programme has gained recognition for closing the low-carbon skills gap that hampers large-scale adoption of sustainable design. Its award-winning focus on training demonstrates how universities can advance sustainable building design and eco-design for buildings through collaboration with industry partners. Graduates versed in whole life carbon methodologies and life cycle thinking in construction are already driving innovation in sustainable architecture and low carbon construction materials, delivering the expertise required for truly carbon neutral construction.
Policy undercurrents in Europe are reinforcing accountability. The European Parliament’s decision to reject amendments that could have weakened corporate sustainability reporting obligations represents a safeguard for transparency across the construction supply chain. Such action ensures that sustainable building design and green construction are not reduced to marketing language but instead rest on verifiable data, lifecycle performance, and quantifiable carbon footprint reduction. This political support strengthens the regulatory foundation for achieving net zero carbon buildings and embedding circular economy principles within procurement frameworks.
UK market data reflect a more complex picture. Project approvals and contract awards are slowing, underlining the need for long-term investment and strategic alignment between sustainable material specification, green infrastructure, and circular economy in construction. A decline in projects threatens progress toward low-impact construction and greener supply networks that depend on renewable building materials and low embodied carbon materials. Sustaining momentum toward net zero carbon and carbon neutral construction will require a consistent pipeline that integrates economic planning with environmental goals, ensuring that sustainability becomes a fixed parameter of design, delivery and reuse across the full life cycle of every building.
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