Excel London has advanced its net zero whole life carbon target by five years, now pursuing 2045. This shift underscores the sector-wide priority of decarbonising the built environment, demanding not just operational changes but a holistic approach across energy use, supply chains, and embodied carbon in materials. Environmental sustainability in construction is driving venues and developers towards rigorous whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost evaluations, increasingly aligning projects with net zero carbon and circular economy principles.
The International Renewable Energy Agency’s latest report shows a 15% growth in renewable power capacity this year. The sustainable construction sector is leveraging this trend through energy-efficient buildings and low carbon design, yet disparities across regions highlight the importance of cross-border collaboration for advancing eco-friendly construction practices everywhere. Achieving net zero carbon buildings relies on inclusive policies and innovative approaches to renewable building materials and resource efficiency in construction, enhancing sustainable building design while addressing the carbon footprint of construction activities.
Substantial new investment in nuclear fusion technology signals strong momentum towards achieving low carbon building and infrastructure. Future access to zero-carbon energy would be transformative for sustainable building practices, eradicating much of the embodied carbon and operational impact that challenge circular economy in construction. Meanwhile, forward-looking developers are adopting circular construction strategies, prioritising sustainable material specification and lifecycle assessment from initial eco-design for buildings through end-of-life reuse in construction.
Persistent delays in international loss and damage funding threaten climate resilience in developing economies. Effective adaptation—ranging from flood-proof green infrastructure to heat-resilient low carbon construction materials—depends on timely global financial support. These factors are integral to both building lifecycle performance and sustainable urban development, reinforcing the centrality of life cycle thinking in construction and environmental impact of construction reduction for vulnerable populations.
Major energy and infrastructure firms continue to publish detailed sustainability reports, driving transparency across green construction supply chains. Industry upgrades and expansion projects increasingly focus on environmental product declarations (EPDs), green building materials, and carbon footprint reduction throughout all project phases. Construction professionals unable to adapt to sustainable building practices risk obsolescence as regulators, stakeholders, and clients raise expectations for carbon neutral construction and genuine environmental sustainability in all new builds and retrofits.
