Global solar power installations have reached a record 2.2 terawatts in 2024, showing a 33% annual increase and highlighting the shift to renewable energy within sustainable construction. China’s rapid growth in renewables supports the global transition to sustainable building design and low carbon building by reducing operational carbon and the overall carbon footprint of construction projects. The focus on whole life carbon and advanced energy solutions continues to drive environmental...

The construction sector is witnessing increased attention on green skills and quality standards as leaders emphasise the need for clearer career pathways to advance sustainability goals. Addressing the shortage of skilled professionals is regarded as vital for widescale adoption of sustainable building design, life cycle cost optimisation, and whole life carbon assessment in modern projects. Training in sustainable construction and eco-design for buildings is being prioritised to help overcome...

Recent developments in the UK highlight growing uncertainty in environmental sustainability in construction, as the outcome of local elections could reshape policy priorities. Reform UK’s electoral gains and proposed revisions to established climate and energy targets, including withdrawing from the 2050 net zero carbon commitment, may impact regulatory frameworks. The construction industry faces a shifting landscape for net zero whole life carbon and whole life carbon assessment, making it...

Aecon Group has expanded digital sustainability management across its construction projects by integrating ISNetworld® into its operations. This shift reflects a growing reliance on data-driven platforms within sustainable construction to enhance supply chain transparency and meet increasing regulatory and client requirements for low carbon design and resilient infrastructure. Improved reporting capacities support both whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment, which are now...

Aecon Group, a prominent player in construction and infrastructure, has intensified its adoption of technology platforms for contractor and supplier management. Expanding the use of ISNetworld, Aecon aims to strengthen environmental sustainability in construction and improve sustainability reporting. This reflects the wider industry focus on transparency, accountability, and meeting tightening sustainability standards. Enhanced digital management supports accurate whole life carbon assessment,...

Construction industry leaders are accelerating sustainable construction with Wood Group awarded a major contract for the front-end engineering and design of a €1.5bn fossil-free plastics plant. This facility will produce plastics from methanol using renewable energy, rather than fossil fuels. Such innovation addresses embodied carbon and the whole life carbon of building materials, supporting decarbonising the built environment and reducing the carbon footprint of construction. The project...

Wood Group has been awarded the front-end engineering and design contract for a €1.5 billion plant focusing on plastics production using methanol and renewable energy, marking a significant shift towards sustainable construction and lowering the carbon footprint of construction materials. This pioneering approach addresses embodied carbon in materials, providing a model for eco-design for buildings and supporting the industry’s drive for a net zero whole life carbon future. The development...

The UK construction sector is accelerating collaborative efforts to address environmental sustainability in construction, highlighted by leading organisations such as RICS, RTPI, RIBA, and ICE working together at the UKREiiF forum. These groups are uniting to develop whole life carbon assessment methods and sustainable building design strategies that address global built environment challenges. Cross-sector partnerships are increasingly seen as essential for implementing sustainable...

The construction industry is making progress towards decarbonising the built environment. WOOD Group has begun front-end engineering and design for a €1.5 billion plant dedicated to producing fossil-free plastics using methanol and renewable energy. This facility will address the significant embodied carbon in materials for construction, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of construction at the earliest stages of the supply chain and support a circular economy in construction. Industry...

The UK construction industry faces renewed scrutiny over environmental sustainability in construction following warnings from the UK Environmental Watchdog. Concerns centre on the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, with experts saying possible changes could weaken nature protection and set back national biodiversity targets. This debate comes as the industry is under increased pressure to prioritise life cycle thinking in construction, especially as sustainable building practices become...