"If pollinators designed gardens, what would humans see?" Over a...

CNN Climate 3 months ago

"If pollinators designed gardens, what would humans see?" Over a video call, the London-based artist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg is talking about "Pollinator Pathmaker," an online tool she developed that allows users to design gardens for the benefit of pollinating insects, such as bees — many species of which are facing extinction. The planting designs are generated using an algorithm that prioritizes flowering plants that pollinators like to feed on, and the project has resulted in flower-filled gardens around the world, which Ginsberg calls "living artworks." The project is one of many on show at "More than Human," an exhibition at the Design Museum in London, running until October 5. Exploring the interconnected relationship between humans and animals, plants and other living beings, the exhibition showcases ideas for how to live in better harmony with the natural world. Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, wasps and hummingbirds, are essential for maintaining biodiversity and the health of the Earth's ecosystems. But bee populations have been declining. "One of the main causes of declines (of pollinators) is landscape change and the decline of flowers in anthropogenic landscapes," said Harland Patch, an assistant research professor in the department of entomology at Pennsylvania State University and co-author of "The Lives of Bees." Scientists attribute the loss of natural, biodiverse habitat to climate change, pollution, pesticides and human-driven development. Read more at the link in @cnnstyle's bio. 📸: Irina Boersma; Royston Hunt/Courtesy Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg Ltd; Harland Patch; Luke Hayes/Courtesy Design Museum; Maiju Suomi; Courtesy Layer; Gamaliel Mendez Garcia/SFER IK Museum; SFER IK Museum

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 8 hours ago



The sustainable construction sector has demonstrated measured progress this week, with multiple projects advancing low carbon design principles and reinforcing a global shift toward environmental sustainability in construction. The UK finalist for the Earthshot Prize has attracted international attention with its “upcycled skyscraper” concept. The project exemplifies how sustainable building design can decarbonise cities by reusing existing structures rather than rebuilding, cutting embodied carbon in materials and reducing the overall carbon footprint of construction. It shows that net zero whole life carbon targets are achievable when adaptive reuse is supported by rigorous whole life carbon assessment. This approach represents a pivot away from demolition-led development and towards truly circular construction strategies.

G F Tomlinson’s completion of the Barnsley College University Centre modernisation delivers a tangible demonstration of sustainable building practices rooted in lifecycle assessment. The retrofit has safeguarded the building’s Art Deco heritage while integrating a low carbon building methodology that promotes energy-efficient buildings and greener infrastructure. By retaining the original structural frame, the project has cut the embodied carbon of construction, proving that low carbon construction materials and renewable building materials have comparable performance to conventional options when guided by life cycle thinking in construction. The work also highlights the significance of BREEAM and emerging standards such as BREEAM v7 in defining measurable sustainability benchmarks.

In Cambridgeshire, work is commencing on the £500 million Medworth Energy from Waste facility, a major investment designed to support a functioning circular economy in construction and energy supply. Through combined heat and power systems, the development will assist future net zero carbon buildings by providing renewable energy outputs while applying whole life carbon methodologies to reduce lifecycle emissions. Although energy-from-waste has detractors, its integration with eco-design for buildings reinforces its potential as part of wider carbon neutral construction strategies that prioritize resource efficiency in construction and whole life cost management.

At the global level, the announcement of the Earthshot Prize finalists underscores that sustainable design and green construction principles now define the benchmark for engineering relevance. With emphasis on embodied carbon reduction and net zero carbon pursuits, these initiatives promote sustainable urban development grounded in measurable environmental product declarations (EPDs) and transparent assessment of the environmental impact of construction. The shift signifies a maturing understanding that building lifecycle performance is fundamental to both commercial resilience and global climate commitments.

Concerns surrounding delays to the European Union Deforestation Regulation highlight the risk to sustainable material specification. Timber and green building materials remain vital in achieving low embodied carbon materials for eco-friendly construction, and a policy setback could compromise supply chain transparency. Safeguarding sustainable architecture relies on consistent international standards that support end-of-life reuse in construction and drive decarbonising the built environment. The week’s stories collectively show that sustainability in the built environment has evolved beyond aspiration—whole life carbon analysis, circular economy methodologies, and life cycle cost integration are now the practical core of how future cities will be designed and built.

Show More

camera_altFeatured Instagram Posts:

Get your opinion heard:

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.