*English below*
📢 すべての化石燃料の段階的廃止を🚫
昨晩 #COP28 において、今回の最重要議題でもあるグローバル・ストックテイクの最終合意に向けた成果文書の新たな草案が発表されました。その中に「すべての化石燃料の段階的廃止」の文字はなく(それより弱い「削減」にとどまった)、石炭の削減の具体的な期限も入りませんでした。排出削減対策(水素・アンモニア混焼やCCSなど)された化石燃料を使用し続ける余地が残されており、世界が今必要なアクションに取り組むには不十分な内容となりました。
すでに起きている被害を最小化するために緊急に必要なクリーンエネルギーへの移行を妨げる「偽の解決策」への余地を残さず、すべての化石燃料の段階的廃止は必須です。
日本は、まさにこのような排出削減対策を推進する事により、2050年まで石炭を含む化石燃料を使用し続ける計画としています。これらは2030年までに排出量を削減することができないだけでなく、日本やアジア、そして世界で化石燃料への依存を永続させることに繋がります。
私たち、そして世界の市民社会からのメッセージは明確です:今すぐにすべての化石燃料の段階的廃止を求めます。
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📢 Phase-out ALL Fossil Fuels NOW🚫
Last night at #COP28 as it prepares for the final agreement, the new draft of the Global Stocktake texts were out - and we are extremely disappointed to see the lack of urgency and agency - WITHOUT the key "phase-out of all fossil fuels" and WITHOUT deadline for phase-out of coal, leaving more space to continue using abated fossil fuels (hydrogen/ammonia co-firing and CCS). We must phase-out ALL Fossil Fuels NOW to leave no space for such false solutions that will hinder the urgently needed transition to clean energy to minimize the damage that is already happening.
Japan plans to keep using fossil fuels until 2050, including coal, and the country emphasizes using exactly these abatement measures which will not reduce emissions by 2030 and will only perpetuate our reliance on fossil fuels - in Japan and across Asia, harming the most vulnerable people and communities.
Our message from the global civil society is clear: We MUST Phase out ALL fossil fuels NOW!🌏
The UK construction sector is entering a decisive phase of sustainable construction focused on measurable carbon reduction rather than symbolic gestures. The launch of the UK’s first commercial‑scale carbon capture and storage facilities in the East Coast Cluster, operated by pX Group, marks significant progress in decarbonising the built environment. These links between energy‑intensive industries and new CO₂ transport and storage systems are reshaping the embodied carbon profile of essential materials such as cement and steel, critical to sustainable building design and eco‑friendly construction. The integration of low embodied carbon materials forms a foundation for the adoption of whole life carbon assessment methods and lifecycle assessment strategies now demanded across the supply chain.
Concrete innovation is accelerating as “green concrete” becomes a viable element of low carbon design. Manufacturers are scaling from trials to full delivery. JCB’s move to provide a 100% biodiesel option for tracked excavators demonstrates practical progress toward net zero carbon buildings and carbon neutral construction. Effective reductions depend on verified renewable building materials and traceable biofuels, requiring stricter sustainable material specification and transparent environmental product declarations (EPDs). Verified sourcing and supply are vital to minimising the carbon footprint of construction and improving resource efficiency in construction.
Across projects, whole life carbon thinking is now inseparable from life cycle cost analysis. Intensifying climate conditions—from escalating floods to drought stress—demand resilient, energy‑efficient buildings and green infrastructure designed using eco‑design for buildings principles. Resilience and sustainability are no longer optional performance indicators but integral to building lifecycle performance and sustainable building practices. The industry response is to secure supply from emerging low carbon construction materials clusters, adopt verified fuels and plant emissions data, and embed circular construction strategies.
The momentum reflects a commitment to environmental sustainability in construction, combining circular economy in construction models with frameworks such as BREEAM V7 to achieve net zero whole life carbon outcomes. Through transparent lifecycle assessment and life cycle thinking in construction, every project can demonstrate measurable progress in carbon footprint reduction and deliver the economic and environmental returns driving the transition to sustainable urban development.
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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