Ocean water is pushing miles beneath Antarctica’s “Doomsday Glacier,” making it more vulnerable to melting than previously thought, according to new research that used radar data from space to perform an X-ray of the crucial glacier.
As the salty, relatively warm ocean water meets the ice, it’s causing “vigorous melting” underneath the glacier and could mean global sea level rise projections are being underestimated, according to a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The glacier, which already contributes 4% to global sea level rise, holds enough ice to raise sea levels by more than 2 feet. But because it also acts as a natural dam to the surrounding ice in West Antarctica, scientists have estimated its complete collapse could ultimately lead to around 10 feet of sea level rise — a catastrophe for the world’s coastal communities.
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📸: NASA/Reuters
Europe’s clean energy transition is reshaping the framework for sustainable construction, yet the disconnect between capital investment and project delivery threatens progress toward net zero carbon buildings. Investment in renewables and low carbon design remains strong, but grid constraints and data centre energy demands underscore the need for robust whole life carbon assessment in every stage of sustainable building design. Developers are being urged to integrate embodied carbon analysis and lifecycle assessment into early project planning to ensure energy-efficient buildings meet tightening environmental standards.
The 1.5GW floating wind project in the Celtic Sea and carbon capture commissioning at the energy‑from‑waste facility in Cheshire represent key steps in decarbonising the built environment, anchoring a shift toward green construction and eco‑friendly infrastructure aligned with the circular economy in construction. Government backing for cleaner shipping supply chains further underlines the urgency of reducing the carbon footprint of construction and supporting resource efficiency across the sector.
Policy uncertainty in the UK continues to distort risk and investment signals. With limited climate measures in the Spring Statement, property leaders warn that regulatory ambiguity could render much of the existing stock unlettable under new EPC standards. To safeguard long‑term asset value, projects must adopt sustainable building practices, low embodied carbon materials and environmental product declarations (EPDs) to verify performance and reduce lifecycle impacts.
The drive for environmental sustainability in construction demands a shift from compliance to measurable performance. Whole life carbon metrics, life cycle cost analysis and sustainable material specification now define best practice across green building materials and eco‑design for buildings. Contractors and developers equipped with circular construction strategies and end‑of‑life reuse models will be best positioned to deliver net zero whole life carbon outcomes and achieve BREEAM and BREEAM v7 ratings. Sustained delivery of credible data, design transparency and carbon neutral construction pathways will determine leadership in the next generation of sustainable urban development.
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