🗣️ “If you were going to come up with a plan to undermine democracy, this would be a very good way to do it.” — Al Gore
In this recent conversation with Christiana Figueres and Laurence Tubiana, Al Gore didn’t mince words. The fossil fuel industry in the U.S. has the money to buy influence—and often, public approval. Meanwhile, those fighting for democracy are left scrambling for scraps to fund civic engagement.
Hear the conversation, recorded at The Climate Reality Project’s recent event in Paris in this week’s episode of Outrage + Optimism, wherever you get your podcasts.
Hourly carbon‑free electricity tariffs are reshaping how organisations procure clean energy. Aligning building operations with these tariffs through smart controls, heat pumps and thermal storage enables carbon footprint reduction based on actual grid intensity. This evolution supports environmental sustainability in construction and encourages sustainable building design strategies that integrate lifecycle assessment data and circular economy planning for improved building lifecycle performance.
The construction pipeline shows uneven momentum, with a fall in main contract awards but new activity in education and commercial sectors. This volatility compels investors to focus on eco‑design for buildings that can be delivered in phases, financed through operating savings and supported by sustainable building practices. Retrofit projects using low embodied carbon materials and renewable building materials strengthen environmental product declarations (EPDs) and promote resource efficiency in construction.
Developers that specify proven heat pump systems, design for flexibility and embed end‑of‑life reuse in construction will capture long‑term value and establish leadership in carbon neutral construction. Integrating circular construction strategies with sustainable material specification ensures that net zero carbon buildings and net zero whole life carbon targets are achievable. The emergent trend signals that decarbonising the built environment relies equally on timing, technology and rigorous life cycle thinking in construction.
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