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 acceleration of low carbon steel investment marks a decisive step toward decarbonising the built environment and controlling embodied carbon in new infrastructure. Germany’s strong state aid signals that low embodied carbon materials will soon define procurement preferences and affect both whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost analysis in major developments. Materials with verified certifications for net zero whole life carbon will gain priority as sustainable construction frameworks evolve, reflecting client demand for transparent supply chains and lower carbon footprint of construction.
At project scale, the expanding circular economy in construction is reinforcing resource efficiency in construction. London’s new glass recycling facility will feed green building materials into façade and insulation supply chains, strengthening sustainable material specification for eco-design for buildings. Biochar’s role in carbon footprint reduction remains promising, though dependent on circular construction strategies and mature quality assurance to guarantee durable results. Genuine environmental sustainability in construction relies on traceable, scalable systems that clarify the environmental impact of construction.
Programmes targeting industrial efficiency continue to deliver the cheapest form of decarbonisation. Proven operational measures are expected to cut emissions by millions of tonnes and reduce costs, encouraging the sector to address whole life carbon at every stage of the building lifecycle performance. Investors and clients now see sustainable building practices and low carbon construction materials not as innovation but as standard risk management. Strengthened oversight of waste streams underlines that circular economy ambitions require clean closure at the system’s end, ensuring claims of sustainable building design and green construction remain credible.
Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do
get in touch.
eco
WLC Assistant
Ask me about sustainability
Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?
