The UK has strengthened its role in the global clean energy transition by co-hosting a major summit, pushing for expansion of clean power to address climate challenges. This signals an urgent shift toward environmental sustainability in construction, with increased demand for low carbon design, net zero carbon buildings, and renewable technology. Governments and industry players are urged to accelerate whole life carbon assessment and adopt eco-design for buildings across new projects and infrastructure.
Approval of the HyNet carbon capture and storage (CCS) network marks a pivotal step in decarbonising the built environment. The project will capture 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually and inject investment into net zero whole life carbon technologies and low embodied carbon materials, setting new standards for sustainable construction and reducing the carbon footprint of construction and heavy industry.
Changes in construction supply chains are underway, with the London Metal Exchange planning a ‘green metals premium’ and launching a low-carbon cement ratings system. These initiatives incentivise the use of sustainable material specification, green building materials, and circular economy practices, supporting lifecycle assessment and embodied carbon reduction in materials procurement.
Retrofitting existing buildings is now highlighted as vital for lowering operational carbon emissions and meeting whole life carbon targets. Industry leaders emphasise retrofitting to ensure energy-efficient buildings and building lifecycle performance, recommending that construction firms adopt life cycle cost thinking in construction and focus on upgrades of legacy structures to maintain competitiveness and achieve climate goals.
Innovation accelerates through collaboration, such as the Suffolk Climate Tech Forum, which gathered sector leaders to scale sustainable design and circular construction strategies. Adoption of new climate technology demonstrates industry commitment to resource efficiency in construction, eco-friendly construction methods, and carbon neutral construction, transforming approaches to green infrastructure and building operations.
Standardisation gains momentum as the British Standards Institution introduces new guidelines for urban resilience and climate adaptation. Integrating sustainable building practices and environmental product declarations (EPDs) into urban planning supports sustainable urban development and helps cities and the construction industry prepare for increasing climate risks, reinforcing the importance of environmental impact of construction across the globe.
