An international court in France ruled Switzerland's failure to adequately tackle the climate crisis was in violation of human rights, in a landmark climate judgment that experts say could have a ripple effect across the globe.
The European Court of Human Rights delivered rulings on a trio of separate climate lawsuits, one brought by more than 2,000 older Swiss women against Switzerland, who argued that climate change-fueled heatwaves undermined their health and quality of life and put them at risk of dying. The court ruled that the Swiss government had breached some of the women's human rights by failing to meet previous targets to cut planet-heating pollution.
The other claims were brought by a mayor against the French government and a third by six young people in Portugal against 32 European countries. Those two claims were ruled inadmissible.
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📸 : Jean-Francois Badias/AP/File
Trident Building Consultancy has established a new sustainability division to strengthen advisory expertise on environmental performance within the built environment. The initiative reflects the growing demand for sustainable building design and compliance with carbon reduction regulations. Developers are under pressure to produce robust Whole Life Carbon Assessments and account for Whole Life Carbon in materials, signalling a shift towards integrated sustainable construction strategies. This expansion in professional services is expected to drive greater adoption of sustainable building practices across the sector.
Research by BSRIA reveals significant gaps in retrofit delivery, where the focus often excludes building occupants. Many retrofitted systems are underused because residents are not engaged on how to operate low carbon design technologies. This undermines the climate benefits of energy-efficient buildings and increases the carbon footprint of construction projects over time. Addressing these gaps requires Life Cycle Cost analysis to ensure building lifecycle performance is not lost due to behavioural oversights.
The UK government has committed over £1.1 billion to decarbonise port infrastructure, creating opportunities for low carbon construction methods and renewable building materials in associated developments. Investment in nearshore infrastructure and logistics highlights the potential for green construction supply chains and resource efficiency in construction. These upgrades are expected to open new routes for Circular Economy approaches and help accelerate carbon footprint reduction in both maritime and land-based projects.
At a global level, analysis shows that fewer than 3% of major companies have credible transition plans towards net zero carbon buildings and net zero Whole Life Carbon targets. The construction sector is particularly behind in setting out long-term investment strategies for decarbonising the built environment. Without clear pathways, carbon neutral construction and circular construction strategies risk being delayed, raising concerns about the environmental impact of construction and the financial risks tied to Climate Change policy and investor expectations.
New initiatives in Europe such as iCOSHELLs are advancing soil restoration across 75% of the continent by 2030. While its focus is not primarily on buildings, the implications for sustainable urban development and eco-design for buildings are significant. Soil health will increasingly influence masterplans, sustainable material specification, and the integration of green infrastructure. Developers will need to adapt their designs to support environmental sustainability in construction as part of broader Circular Economy in construction goals.
Smaller-scale innovations such as Swivelpole’s ladder-free retrofit technology demonstrate how eco-friendly construction can support worker safety and minimise disruption in existing facilities. Though modest, these improvements contribute to sustainable retrofit practices, low-impact construction and end-of-life reuse in construction. Incremental advances in sustainable design, combined with major investment and policy, are driving momentum towards greener, more resilient buildings worldwide.
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