Did you know CO2 is naturally higher in the winter?
During the spring and summer, plants use CO2 from the atmosphere to grow. Over the winter, plants decompose and release CO2 back to the atmosphere.
But from year to year, CO2 continues to increase. The overall upward trend is due to increasing carbon emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels. So the annual cycle is from plants while the long-term trend is caused by human activities.
Video Description:
A line graph on a white background showing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere every month since 2013. The graph is titled, How does CO2 change throughout the seasons?
The line showing the amount of CO2 over time is sawtooth-shaped, with a peak each spring and a valley each autumn. In addition to that annual wiggle, the overall amount of CO2 increases every year. So the line looks like a jagged, upward slope.
Text on the graph walks through the explanation: The upward trend in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is caused by carbon emissions. The primary cause of human carbon emissions is burning fossil fuels. But what causes the sawtooth, up and down pattern? Plants! During the growing season, plants draw in CO2 to fuel their growth. In the autumn, CO2 reaches its lowest point for the year. As plant growth stops or slows down, the whole process reverses itself. Plant matter decomposes and releases CO2 back to the atmosphere. CO2 increases throughout the winter months. Hitting its annual peak in springtime. Then the cycle repeats, as plants start growing again and using up CO2. So while nature causes the sawtooth pattern of ups and downs from year to year, humans are causing the upward climb of the trend line over the years. Thus, the data illustrate both natural factors and human additions of CO2.
#NASA #Earthscience #ClimateChange #Carbon
Renfrewshire is set to host a new £14 million affordable housing scheme by Sanctuary Scotland, signalling a notable move in sustainable construction. The 56-home development in Braehead, due to commence in March 2026, is expected to demonstrate best practice in sustainable building design and low carbon construction materials. Through early integration of whole life carbon assessment and embodied carbon evaluation, such housing projects are redefining how environmental sustainability in construction is measured. The emphasis on low carbon design and energy-efficient buildings highlights the growing need for lifecycle assessment methods to achieve net zero whole life carbon performance and reduce the carbon footprint of construction across all project stages.
The UK’s decision to place ESG ratings providers under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority represents a step-change in regulating sustainable finance within the built environment. This approach reinforces accountability and transparency, crucial for assessing embodied carbon in materials and the environmental impact of construction supply chains. Reliable ESG metrics inform whole life carbon calculations and life cycle cost analysis, both central to sustainable building practices and the transition toward carbon neutral construction. As scrutiny accelerates, building developers and material suppliers must strengthen environmental product declarations (EPDs) and adopt life cycle thinking in construction to ensure consistent, verifiable results.
Public pressure surrounding the environmental footprint of Britain’s expanding data centre sector reveals broader concerns about resource efficiency in construction. The rapid increase in energy and water demand underscores the urgency of integrating eco-design for buildings and green infrastructure into planning. Data centre developers are encouraged to prioritise low-impact construction methods and renewable building materials, supporting the movement toward net zero carbon buildings. These shifts demonstrate how decarbonising the built environment depends on both smart spatial planning and responsible material sourcing.
The government’s forthcoming mandate requiring UK businesses to install smart meters to access fixed-term energy deals introduces a data-driven catalyst for carbon footprint reduction. Access to real-time energy data empowers construction firms to assess building lifecycle performance and refine sustainable material specification. Such monitoring supports circular economy models through improved energy efficiency and low embodied carbon materials management, advancing both BREEAM and BREEAM v7 certification performance goals.
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.