The construction industry is under renewed scrutiny as embodied carbon remains one of the biggest barriers to decarbonising the built environment. A new report confirms that although awareness is rising, real estate professionals still lack clear methodologies for measuring and reducing embodied carbon in materials and processes. Delivering net zero carbon buildings depends on addressing whole life carbon through robust lifecycle assessment and consistent whole life carbon assessment across projects of all scales. Without immediate uptake of low carbon construction materials and practices, the industry risks missing critical climate targets.

The regeneration of Earlestown by Eric Wright Group highlights the gap between ambition and measurable outcomes in sustainable construction. Market expectations now demand that every new development demonstrate sustainable building design, eco-design for buildings, and low embodied carbon materials as standard. Reliance on traditional approaches raises concerns over the carbon footprint of construction, where environmental sustainability in construction must be prioritised. Genuine progress requires embedding resource efficiency in construction, sustainable material specification, and circular construction strategies into delivery frameworks.

At a global level, climate policy signals mixed momentum. More than three quarters of the world economy pursues net zero whole life carbon, even as national pledges remain inadequate. The UN’s message stresses the opportunity for green construction to accelerate transformation. Investment into sustainable building practices and the circular economy in construction is central to enabling carbon neutral construction. By scaling life cycle thinking in construction, governments and developers can ensure sustainable urban development that delivers measurable carbon footprint reduction.

Colombia’s decision to host a fossil fuel phase-out summit in 2026 underscores the urgency of transitioning heavy industries away from carbon-intensive supply chains. For construction, this reinforces the case for renewable building materials, low carbon design and green building products that can substitute for traditional steel and cement. Applying building lifecycle performance metrics and lifecycle assessment will help reduce the environmental impact of construction while advancing eco-friendly construction and green building materials on a global stage.

As investor scrutiny intensifies, major developers must show transparent proof of carbon footprint reduction and end-of-life reuse in construction. The sector is increasingly judged on sustainable architecture, energy-efficient buildings, and the ability to demonstrate environmental product declarations (EPDs). Achieving true decarbonising of the built environment will require not only technical solutions like BREEAM and BREEAM v7 certification but also cultural change across real estate organisations.

Real estate firms now weigh the choice between internal capacity building and external consultancy for sustainability expertise. A dual approach may be vital, combining training for professionals with specialist support in whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment, and sustainable design integration. Aligning with circular economy principles and delivering low-impact construction could determine whether the next generation of projects achieves lasting environmental sustainability in construction. Empowering teams to act with speed and precision will define the transition from symbolic pledges to resilient, net zero carbon buildings worldwide.