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

CNN Climate 1 year 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 22 days ago



Financial institutions are accelerating sustainable construction by aligning lending with measurable environmental performance. Santander UK’s decision to adapt mortgage models for Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills homes integrates credit policy with energy-efficient buildings, translating net zero carbon ambitions into mainstream financial metrics. This shift signals the emergence of whole life carbon assessment as a determinant in property valuation and positions embodied carbon and life cycle cost analysis as standard tools of risk management across the sector.

Digital transformation is amplifying the movement. The Monklands digital hospital project in Scotland demonstrates how offsite manufacturing, lifecycle assessment and connected data platforms enhance building lifecycle performance, minimise waste, and verify embodied carbon in materials. Durham’s adoption of digital planning and assessment tools reflects a broader drive toward resource efficiency in construction and environmental sustainability in construction. Together these initiatives redefine sustainable building design by embedding whole life carbon accountability into design and delivery workflows.

Policy remains an enabling force but the centre of momentum is shifting from government mandates to operational proof. A renewed national emphasis on green affordability and the integration of social equity with decarbonising the built environment are reinforcing the transition toward net zero whole life carbon outcomes. These developments illustrate a maturing circular economy in construction where sustainable building practices, low carbon design and eco-design for buildings converge to deliver verifiable carbon footprint reduction. The industry’s direction is now measurable—kilograms of CO₂, minutes saved, resources reused—evidence that green construction is evolving from aspiration to tangible low carbon building performance.

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