A flock of roseate spoonbills flies overhead as a shark hunts mullet below. The...

CNN Climate 1 year ago

A flock of roseate spoonbills flies overhead as a shark hunts mullet below. The water of Florida's Everglades wetlands is turquoise and calm. But the serene image tells a bigger story, of the bright pink spoonbills that are becoming increasingly rare due in part to sea level rise and the loss of mangrove habitat where they forage for fish. The striking photograph, taken by Mark Ian Cook, won the grand prize in the 2025 Mangrove Photography Awards. The awards, in its 11th year, aims to raise awareness of mangrove forests — salt-tolerant trees living where freshwater meets saltwater — which are found in more than 120 countries worldwide. This year, it received a record 3,303 entries from 78 nations. "The goal of the Mangrove Photography Awards is to captivate and inspire audiences across the globe," Leo Thom, creative director and founder of the awards, told CNN. "We want to expose the beauty and complexity of mangrove ecosystems and, most importantly, to spark emotional connections that lead to conservation action on the ground." Mangroves are key in fighting climate change, as they are carbon sinks, serve as a natural barrier against flooding, and provide a habitat to endangered animals like tigers and jaguars. Read more at the link in @cnntravel's bio. #CallToEarth 📸: Mark Ian Cook/Mangrove Photography Awards; Mark Ian Cook/Mangrove Photography Awards; Satwika Satria/Mangrove Photography Awards; Tom Quinney/Mangrove Photography Awards; Ahmed Badwan/Mangrove Photography Awards; Freddie Claire/Mangrove Photography Awards; Gwi Bin Lim/Mangrove Photography Awards; Alex Pike/Mangrove Photography Awards; Nicholas Hess/Mangrove Photography Awards; Mohammad Rakibul Hasan/Mangrove Photography Awards

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 1 hour ago



Europe’s transition towards sustainable construction gained tangible momentum through new technological and policy advancements redefining environmental sustainability in construction. The EU‑funded INDTEGRATE project is positioning green hydrogen within industrial processes, linking Whole Life Carbon Assessment to real supply chain transformation. By integrating renewable energy into steel and concrete production, the initiative points to reduced embodied carbon in materials and measurable carbon footprint reduction across high‑impact manufacturing. This shift aligns with broader goals around net zero Whole Life Carbon and low carbon design, marking a definitive step toward decarbonising the built environment.

The closure of blast furnaces at Port Talbot demonstrates structural change rather than incremental low‑impact construction, showing how carbon neutral construction can immediately cut regional emissions. The UK’s Defra Farming Roadmap 2050 is redefining the interface between agriculture and sustainable building design, promoting regenerative landscapes and infrastructure prepared for a climate‑adapted future. It supports the Circular Economy in construction by linking eco‑design for buildings with resource efficiency in construction and end‑of‑life reuse in construction, connecting rural resilience with low carbon building practices.

Growing investment in modular and offshore techniques reflects demand for Whole Life Carbon management and lifecycle assessment throughout supply chains. Training for energy‑efficient buildings and low embodied carbon materials is strengthening workforce capability, embedding life cycle thinking in construction and reinforcing sustainable material specification. Regulation is tightening around the environmental impact of construction, driving transparency through environmental product declarations (EPDs) and accountability consistent with breeam and breeam v7 performance criteria.

The conversation surrounding green construction is evolving from pilot schemes to long‑term policy alignment framed by Life Cycle Cost and circular construction strategies. The sector is adopting sustainable building practices that deliver measurable building lifecycle performance across net zero carbon buildings. As the tools for sustainable design move from concept to implementation, eco‑friendly construction underpinned by renewable building materials and green infrastructure is becoming integral to sustainable urban development and the future of low carbon construction materials.

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