This paper provides updated and new information on the export of used light-duty vehicles (LDVs) to the Global South by the four leading used vehicles exporters: European Union (EU), United States of America (USA), Japan, and Republic of Korea (ROK). As part of UNEP’s ongoing series on used vehicles, this paper builds on the 2020 report and 2021 update on “Used Vehicles and the Environment - A Global Overview on Used Light Duty Vehicles: Flows, Scale, and Regulation”, and includes: ‣ Updated used LDVs export data for the period 2015-2022 from the EU, USA, Japan and ROK. ‣ An update of the regulatory environment for used LDVs import for 146 countries, 122 of which are low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Previous Reports in this Series Used Vehicles and the Environment (2021) Used Vehicles and the Environment (2020)
Cornwall’s geothermal brines are nearing commercial output of about 100 tonnes a year of battery‑grade lithium carbonate, strengthening domestic energy‑storage supply chains for electrified, energy‑efficient buildings and net zero carbon buildings. The shift supports low carbon design and sustainable construction by reducing import risk and improving environmental sustainability in construction.
A major analysis warns land and ocean carbon sinks are under intensifying pressure and that carbon pricing is failing to protect them. Developers can no longer rely on offsets to balance the carbon footprint of construction. Real reductions in operational and embodied carbon must lead project strategy, backed by whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment, and life cycle thinking in construction. Robust data through environmental product declarations (epds), clear targets for embodied carbon in materials, and adoption of low embodied carbon materials and green building products are becoming standard practice. Alignment with BREEAM and breeam v7 can help verify net zero whole life carbon trajectories while optimising life cycle cost and building lifecycle performance.
The UK’s £400m loan to the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, aimed at protecting over a billion hectares of rainforest, could stabilise sustainable timber supply for mass‑timber, reinforcing renewable building materials within a circular economy in construction. Delivery depends on governance and sustainable material specification to ensure green construction outcomes and eco‑friendly construction that advances carbon neutral construction.
Industry capacity is inching forward as a major utility redeploys 500 veterans into smart energy and heat‑pump roles, easing the labour bottleneck stalling retrofit and decarbonising the built environment. Skills growth underpins sustainable building design, sustainable building practices, green infrastructure and low carbon building upgrades across sustainable urban development.
Wildfires reaching typically cool, damp parts of Europe underline the need for fire‑resilient façades, materials and landscaping integrated into sustainable design and eco‑design for buildings. Priority actions include resource efficiency in construction, circular construction strategies, end‑of‑life reuse in construction and circular economy approaches that deliver measurable carbon footprint reduction.
Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do
get in touch.
Let's chat!
WLC Assistant
Ask me about sustainability
Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?
