Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on the planet and home to a vast array of species. But in recent years it has been hit by a series of devastating mass bleaching events, turning the vibrant colors of parts of the reef a bright white.
Across the world, corals are suffering a similar fate, with more than 80% of the ocean's reefs hit by an ongoing global bleaching event that began in 2023, due to record high marine temperatures. Bleaching can be deadly, as the corals are depleted of the algae that live inside them and act as a food source.
The effects can be catastrophic; while coral reefs occupy just 0.01% of the ocean floor, they support a quarter of all marine life, as well as providing people with food and livelihoods, and helping to reduce storm surge and protect against erosion.
If coral reefs are to be saved, efforts to curb ocean warming by reducing carbon emissions need to be stepped up, but scientists are also searching for other solutions to keep coral reefs alive in a warming world.
📸: Christine Roper; Tom Booth/CNN; Jake Crosby; John Edmondson
#CalltoEarth
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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