The UK government has introduced new planning regulations this month, aiming to speed up the adoption of heat pumps in homes as part of its Warm Homes Plan. These regulations are designed to remove barriers faced by installers and make low carbon energy solutions more available to homeowners, directly supporting the decarbonising of the built environment. Energy-efficient buildings and low carbon building upgrades are central to this commitment, furthering the UK’s progress toward net zero whole life carbon and reducing operational carbon in housing.
A significant report across Europe finds over 1.7 Terawatts of renewable energy projects delayed because of grid connection approval backlogs. This capacity far exceeds what is required for the EU’s 2030 climate targets, highlighting how essential grid upgrades are to enable sustainable infrastructure and green construction projects. Unlocking these investments is key to achieving net zero carbon buildings and real progress in environmental sustainability in construction.
On a global scale, 'almost 90% of waste is not currently recycled, exposing a major gap in the circular economy and construction’s contribution to waste streams. The construction sector’s embrace of circular economy in construction, recycled materials, and more robust lifecycle assessment processes is recognised as crucial for reducing the carbon footprint of construction. Innovations in end-of-life reuse in construction and better regional policies are proving vital for resource efficiency in construction and the environmental impact of construction.
In Mali, a partnership between organizations such as Ayuda en Acción, Indorama Ventures, and IMG Group advances plastic recycling in Bamako to promote both sustainability and socio-economic growth. Such targeted recycling initiatives illustrate the value of sustainable building practices and circular construction strategies, especially within rapidly developing urban environments and emerging markets.
Investment flows into green building materials, including low embodied carbon materials, sustainable packaging technologies, and water solutions for AI-powered data centres, are driving sustainable building design and eco-design for buildings. The momentum for sustainable construction and next-generation green building products supports global movement towards net zero whole life carbon. These cross-industry developments keep the focus on decarbonising the built environment and strengthening sustainable building practices.
