Calls for bolder action on sustainable construction policies are intensifying in the lead-up to COP29. Advocates are urging governments to embed legally binding targets for Whole Life Carbon and embodied carbon into national climate plans. Central to this call is the integration of Whole Life Carbon Assessment across all building types and scales, backed by lifecycle assessment requirements. By aligning building regulations more closely with lifecycle performance and carbon footprint reduction, the sector can play a pivotal role in achieving net zero carbon goals.
Global investment in environmental sustainability in construction is increasing. GID, a major real estate investment firm, published its 2024 Responsible Investments Report, revealing progress on energy-efficient buildings and low carbon technologies. The report shows a shift toward measurable sustainable building practices and signals wider industry engagement with net zero carbon buildings and sustainable building design. The move from voluntary targets to performance-linked metrics underlines growing support for decarbonising the built environment through life cycle cost analysis and eco-friendly construction.
Dubai’s continued urban development is being shaped by rising investment in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority announced historically high revenues, with large sums now directed towards green construction and low-impact construction strategies. In high-growth cities, sustainable urban development depends on adopting low carbon construction materials and renewable building materials that align with whole life carbon goals. The challenge remains to deliver projects that meet speed, scale, and climate requirements without sacrificing environmental performance.
Changes in the supply chain expose vulnerabilities in the circular economy in construction. Veolia’s planned closure of plastics recycling plants in Germany will disrupt access to recycled polymers used in low embodied carbon materials. This setback highlights the critical role of end-of-life reuse in construction and reinforces the need for robust circular construction strategies. A viable circular economy depends on continuous investment in material recovery and resource efficiency in construction, not just ambitious policy targets.
In the US, Beale Infrastructure has withdrawn plans for an expanded reclaimed water system in Tucson. While primarily linked to digital infrastructure, the project would have supported sustainable water strategies for green infrastructure and sustainable architecture in arid regions. As water scarcity escalates, decisions that overlook resource integration will weaken the resilience of sustainable construction pathways and limit uptake of eco-design for buildings in water-stressed markets.
