🏙Cities are key in combatting the climate crisis.
Almost 5 billion people live in towns or cities. Generating 70% of global CO2 emissions, they can be powerful agents of change.
"Portraits of Urban Change" is a photo contest by @UNUEHS and @unclimatechange showing projects that help make our cities more sustainable, inclusive and resilient. Here are three of the 20 pictures selected to be exhibited at the upcoming #COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan in November:
🗑️The production, use and waste management of plastics generates about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Mr and Mrs Ebun in Nigeria have made it their livelihood to collect plastic bags and bottles, wash them clean, weigh them and take them to recycling plants for a token. Photo: Samuel Okechukwu
⚡️ Cities use 75% of the world’s energy and produce 70% of greenhouse gases. In an effort to switch to renewable energy sources, a major corporation in Cebu in the Philippines has converted their primary power source to clean energy and placed several hectares of solar panels on residential houses. Photo: Mark Linel Padecio
🌱 Urban areas can be up to 10°C hotter than surrounding regions. City forests or gardens can significantly reduce air temperatures - and contribute to food security at the same time. An NGO in Brazil covered its roof with a vegetable garden that produces organic food and serves 400 families from the neighboring community. Photo: Hans von Manteuffel
Every action counts!
#UrbanOctober
The recently completed Nord Pavilion in London highlights the rise of low-impact home extensions that balance architectural quality with environmental performance. By integrating natural light and energy-efficient design features, this project demonstrates how Whole Life Carbon and Embodied Carbon can be reduced through sustainable building design at a domestic scale. It stands as a clear example of eco-design for buildings that respond to both aesthetic and performance demands while contributing to environmental sustainability in construction.
Large-scale energy generation also influences the construction sector. The US programme to deploy next-generation nuclear reactors is reshaping not only energy supply but also methods of modular construction, permitting, and rapid project delivery. These approaches point to a growing recognition of Life Cycle Cost, lifecycle assessment, and Whole Life Carbon Assessment in infrastructure delivery. The adoption of low carbon construction materials and net zero whole life carbon strategies within such projects will be critical to reducing the carbon footprint of construction.
BKV Corporation’s 2024 Sustainability Report underscores the push toward a Circular Economy in construction through its closed-loop model. This forward-looking approach stresses Embodied Carbon in materials and the importance of circular construction strategies. The report aligns with industry adoption of life cycle thinking in construction, emphasising end-of-life reuse in construction and resource efficiency in construction, both essential for achieving net zero carbon buildings and building lifecycle performance.
Shifts in decentralised and flexible energy generation also carry direct implications for sustainable construction. New optimisation and smart grid strategies increasingly affect how energy-efficient buildings and low carbon buildings are designed, powered, and integrated into green infrastructure. Such systems enable the use of renewable building materials and eco-friendly construction practices, reinforcing the alignment between sustainable urban development and carbon neutral construction.
Momentum around international environmental treaties illustrates the broader movement toward regulating the environmental impact of construction and major infrastructure. These frameworks support sustainable building practices and sustainable material specification while compelling the industry to expand the use of environmental product declarations (EPDs) and green building products. Standards such as BREEAM and BREEAM v7 will remain central in benchmarking sustainable design against global goals for carbon footprint reduction.
The construction sector is transitioning toward sustainable architecture that combines low carbon design, green construction methods, and net zero carbon delivery. By prioritising sustainable building design, eco-friendly construction materials, and lifecycle assessment tools, the industry advances environmental sustainability in construction. The path forward depends on embedding Circular Economy principles across every stage of Whole Life Carbon performance, laying the foundation for genuinely sustainable construction practices worldwide.
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
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