The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has partnered with the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership to help embed environmental sustainability in construction through research-led, systemic change. This strategic collaboration aims to drive adoption of sustainable building design and promote whole life carbon assessment methodologies across building lifecycles. By integrating science-based targets into professional standards, it supports the industry's move toward net zero whole life carbon and demonstrates commitment to decarbonising the built environment.
Recent policy rollbacks and regulatory delays, including the Environment Agency’s postponed fee increases, are creating uncertainty across the sector. These setbacks affect life cycle cost planning, compliance in waste management, and broader efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of construction. Businesses operating within the construction industry are therefore being encouraged to adopt circular construction strategies and life cycle thinking in construction to future-proof operations against shifting legal frameworks.
Capstone Green Energy's acquisition of Cal Microturbine’s territory marks a growing trend towards distributed, low-carbon energy infrastructure. Microturbines integrated into commercial construction projects enhance energy-efficient buildings through on-site generation and combined heat and power systems. This technology supports low carbon design strategies and aligns closely with whole life carbon goals in large-scale developments.
Emerging clean fuel technologies are showing potential for long-term impacts on sustainable construction. Conestoga Energy’s acquisition of SAFFiRE Renewables signals increased interest in using advanced biofuels and renewable building materials to supply low carbon construction materials. As these innovations mature, they could reshape approaches to eco-friendly construction and renewable integration in infrastructure systems.
Record-breaking global temperatures and increased humidity highlight the urgent need for climate-adaptive and sustainable building practices. Exposure to extreme heat conditions on-site is strengthening the case for green infrastructure, upgraded building lifecycle performance, and scheduling methods that factor in worker health. Sustainable urban development plans must now account for resilience and the embodied carbon in materials to ensure long-term viability in changing climates.
The spotlight remains on embodied carbon and the need for accurate whole life carbon assessments to guide sustainable material specification. As the demand for green building materials and environmental product declarations (EPDs) increases, BREEAM and BREEAM V7 continue to play key roles in promoting performance-led, carbon-conscious design across global construction markets.
