The University of Derby has launched the UK’s first Institute of Carbonomics, focusing on supporting businesses to measure and reduce carbon emissions across supply chains. This initiative is highly significant for the construction industry as firms face increased pressure to cut embodied carbon in buildings and materials. By aligning with the principles of whole life carbon and whole life carbon assessment, the institute provides a framework for companies to quantify emissions throughout the entire building lifecycle, underpinning sustainable building design and low carbon construction strategies.

Investment in decarbonisation is accelerating as Gresham House acquires SUSI Partners, taking its sustainable assets under management to more than £10 billion. The deal strengthens its position in financing energy transition projects, including energy-efficient buildings, grid-scale renewable energy, and sustainable urban development. This capital redirection into green infrastructure and building retrofits highlights the growing link between finance, lifecyle assessment, and sustainable construction outcomes that support net zero whole life carbon targets.

The London Stock Exchange has reported a modest shift in investment portfolios towards lower-carbon assets. Investors are scrutinising the carbon footprint of construction projects, reinforcing accountability for embodied carbon in materials and the wider environmental sustainability in construction. As life cycle thinking in construction becomes embedded in financial systems, builders face heightened expectations to demonstrate resource efficiency, low carbon building practices, and improved building lifecycle performance.

The Bacton gas terminal in Norfolk could be repurposed as a hydrogen production hub, with industry experts highlighting its strong potential for green energy transition. Such a shift would support low carbon design in building energy systems and offer opportunities for eco-design for buildings reliant on clean fuel sources. Repurposing existing fossil fuel infrastructure aligns with circular economy in construction principles and lays a foundation for eco-friendly construction solutions powered by renewable energy.

Policy and governance remain critical to sustainable building practices. Concerns continue over the absence of the Climate Change Committee in Heathrow expansion discussions, a decision that underscores the importance of robust oversight on large-scale infrastructure projects with significant carbon impact. Local authority actions, such as Kent County Council’s withdrawal of its climate emergency declaration, also demonstrate how political decisions can directly influence the environmental impact of construction and long-term pathways toward net zero carbon buildings.

Together, these developments reflect a global shift towards sustainable construction, integrating sustainable design approaches, lifecycle assessment methodologies, and circular construction strategies. The emphasis on carbon footprint reduction, low embodied carbon materials, and end-of-life reuse in construction highlights an accelerating drive to decarbonise the built environment. The sector faces rising expectations to deliver net zero carbon outcomes while embedding sustainable building practices that minimise whole life carbon and enhance environmental product declarations.