In 2020, ReShark—a collective of aquariums, nonprofits, local communities and researchers—launched the world’s first shark translocation program, the Stegostoma tigrinum Augmentation and Recovery Project, after zebra sharks “were very close to [being] fully extinct,” according to Steve Kessel, director of marine research at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.
To date, shark eggs have been shipped to Indonesia from Sydney, Singapore, six U.S. cities and four other international aquariums.
“For me, this has been very full circle—to take care of the adults, watch them lay the eggs, grab the eggs, candle the eggs, see that there’s an embryo developing and then ship that out—it’s something I’m very proud to be a part of,” said Anna Byczynski, a supervisor of Shedd’s tropical marine fishes exhibit.
🔗 Read more on our website, linked in our bio
✍️ @johnnysturgeon
📸 Shedd Aquarium and ReShark
Sustainable construction is moving from aspiration to measurable delivery, with whole life carbon, embodied carbon and whole life carbon assessment becoming central to project viability. UK pressure for a 2035 electrification target is intensifying demand for heat pumps, rooftop solar, batteries and energy-efficient buildings that reduce exposure to volatile gas prices. Electrification alone will not deliver net zero carbon buildings unless fossil-fuel demand is designed out through sustainable building design, low carbon design and robust lifecycle assessment.
Regulation is tightening around building lifecycle performance, comfort, roofing, flooring and material choices. The Future Homes Standard, BREEAM and BREEAM v7 are reinforcing the need for environmental sustainability in construction through better fabric efficiency, eco-design for buildings and sustainable material specification. Developers face growing scrutiny over the carbon footprint of construction, embodied carbon in materials, life cycle cost and evidence-led procurement using environmental product declarations (EPDs), low embodied carbon materials and low carbon construction materials.
Global clean-tech manufacturing capacity, led by China, could make renewable technologies and green building products more accessible as renewable capacity expands towards 2035. Supply-chain risk remains material, placing greater value on circular economy principles, circular economy in construction, resource efficiency in construction and end-of-life reuse in construction. Green construction is becoming an industrial procurement challenge, not a niche specification.
Climate adaptation is now inseparable from decarbonising the built environment. Heatwaves, flooding and coastal risk are forcing sustainable architecture, green infrastructure and sustainable urban development to address resilience as well as carbon footprint reduction. The next test for the sector is net zero whole life carbon delivered through sustainable building practices, circular construction strategies, renewable building materials and credible low-impact construction built for a climate already changing.
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.
Let's chat!
WLC Assistant
Ask me about sustainability
Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?
