I'm still reverberating from three incredible days of training with The...

Climate Reality 2 months ago

I'm still reverberating from three incredible days of training with The Climate Reality Project. So much content, so many insights and inspired conversations. At the end @algore quoted the phrase that has moved me for years: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead. And we were honoured with the "Green Ring", so now we are officially climate activists! Congratulations to everyone involved in this incredible project! How important it is to know that there are so many people changing the world! It was an honour to take part in this training. Especially in the year that we have Cop 30! Special thanks to our Mentor @cesarnavarromartins that guided us. I will honour my gift and intensify my actions through @globalcitizen.education. Let's keep going with courage and hope! There's still time!.🌍🦋🙏✨️ Ainda estou reverberando os três dias incríveis de treinamento com o "The Climate Reality Project" Tanto conteúdo, tantos insights, e conversas inspiradoras. No final, @algore citou a frase que me move há muitos anos: "Nunca duvidem que um pequeno grupo de cidadãos conscientes e comprometidos possa mudar o mundo. De fato, é a única forma que o mundo mudou." Margaret Mead. E fomos Laureados com o "Green Ring", e agora somos oficialmente Ativistas Climáticos! Parabéns a todos os envolvidos neste incrível projeto! Como é importante saber que há tantas pessoas dedicadas a melhora o mundo. Foi uma honra participar nesta formação. Principalmente no ano em que teremos a COP 30. Agradecimento especial ao nosso Mentor @cesarnavarromartins que nos guiou lindamente. Vou honrar meu presente e intensificar ainda mais as minhas ações através da @globalcitizen.education. Seguimos com coragem e esperança! Ainda dá tempo! 🌍🦋🙏✨️ #climatechange #training #climateactivism #theclimaterealityproject

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 3 hours ago



A surge of innovation is redefining sustainable construction, with projects across the UK demonstrating how environmental sustainability in construction can merge with design excellence and performance resilience. At the forefront is the shortlisted “upcycled skyscraper”, a striking case of circular economy in construction where existing structures are adapted rather than demolished. The project exemplifies low carbon design by reusing steel and concrete frames to reduce embodied carbon in materials and limit the carbon footprint of construction. Through a robust whole life carbon assessment, the scheme proves that sustainable building design can embody elegance and cost-efficiency while advancing the goal of net zero whole life carbon in urban regeneration.

The Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power facility in Wisbech represents a parallel movement toward decarbonising the built environment. By transforming residual waste into usable energy, the £500 million investment underscores how sustainable building practices contribute to green infrastructure and long-term resource efficiency in construction. Designed to power more than 80,000 homes with low-carbon electricity, the facility highlights how lifecycle assessment and low carbon construction materials factor into environmental product declarations (EPDs) and end-of-life reuse in construction plans. It demonstrates that whole life carbon reduction can be achieved when energy generation is woven into the broader framework of sustainable urban development.

Heritage buildings are equally central to this transition. G F Tomlinson’s retrofit of Barnsley College’s University Centre into the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology embodies life cycle thinking in construction and shows how low-impact construction methods can rejuvenate older assets. The project integrates renewable building materials and green building products while preserving the structure’s Art Deco façade. It stands as an archetype of eco-friendly construction and sustainable material specification, proving that a low carbon building can bridge history and high performance without undermining architectural integrity.

Industry analysis reveals that the private sector is expanding its commitment to net zero carbon buildings, embedding BREEAM and emerging frameworks like BREEAM v7 into procurement and reporting systems. Corporations are prioritising life cycle cost evaluations and circular construction strategies to ensure that every design stage addresses embodied carbon and operational efficiency. In shifting toward carbon neutral construction, these firms are retooling supply chains and adopting low embodied carbon materials tailored to each project’s environmental impact of construction metrics. The movement marks a clear pivot from voluntary green construction efforts toward measurable and verifiable sustainability outcomes.

Prince William’s advocacy for scalable sustainable design through initiatives such as the Earthshot Prize captures a global mood: carbon footprint reduction must be inherent to every phase of eco-design for buildings, from concept development to building lifecycle performance analysis. The momentum now depends on how effectively policymakers and developers align lifecycle assessment methodologies with on-site practice. With the integration of circular economy strategies and net zero carbon benchmarks, sustainable construction is emerging not as an alternative niche but as the foundation of future-ready, low carbon, energy-efficient buildings. The shift signals a systemic commitment to transforming the environmental sustainability of construction into a central metric of progress, setting a new global standard for how we build, adapt and sustain the built environment.

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.