Photos by James Whitlow Delano @jameswhitlowdelano for @everydayclimatechange...

Every Day Climate Change 2 years ago

Photos by James Whitlow Delano @jameswhitlowdelano for @everydayclimatechange As summer reaches record heat, and talk turns to the warming planet, it again becomes clear to me that only a few voices in the US can get a word in edgewise. We need more voices, voices of those in the field witnessing and documenting the devastating consequences of our changing climate – not the same celebrity climate activists. 1. A fishing boat left behind on Lake Poopo, formerly Bolivia's second largest, that has completely dried up in large part due to climate change. Lake Poopo dried up completely in 2015. Poopo was suffering for years with increased meltwater diversion and contamination of water along its source, the Desaguadero River but prolonged decrease in rains and intense drought, due to climate change, led to this 2,400 sq km (926 sq. mi.) lake, an area five times larger than Lake Tahoe, to dry out completely, killing estimated 3 million fish and thousands of birds. 2. Riding this road in Bulakan (correct spelling), every day, during high tide is likely riding out to sea, due to rising sea levels and subsiding ground from over-exploitation of an underground aquifer. Bulakan (correct spelling(, Bulacan (correct spelling) Province, The Philippines 3. 2023: The sun filtered through the smoke of the forest fire in San José de Palco. Bío Bío, Chile. In the 13th year of a megadrought in Central Chile, over 425,000 hectares (1,050,197 acres) of forest have burned, most of it in dessicated monoculture tree plantations of highly flammable exotic species of eucalyptus and Monterey pine. At least 26 people have been killed and 2,000 injured. 4. The advancing Sahara: Small fields of wheat, irrigated by water from a solar powered pump drawn from a 15 meter deep well, are planted amid sand dunes which are encroaching upon the palmeraie oasis of M'Hamid. Morocco This palmeraie is drying out due to the the climate crisis and a dam build at the top of the valley at the base of the Atlas Mountains.

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 6 hours ago



The construction sector is entering a period of measured transformation, defined by the integration of environmental sustainability in construction policy, digital innovation, and financial accountability. The London Plan continues to set a demanding benchmark, driving developers to embed sustainable building design and Whole Life Carbon Assessment from project inception. Compliance now requires an understanding of Whole Life Carbon, Life Cycle Costing, and the carbon footprint of construction to meet tightening targets while safeguarding profitability. This shift demonstrates that sustainable construction is no longer aspirational but an operational necessity.

Corporate leaders are calling for consistent frameworks that enable reliable investment in low carbon design, renewable building materials, and Circular Economy in construction strategies. Businesses emphasise that uncertainty impedes progress toward net zero Whole Life Carbon goals. Stable regulation would strengthen confidence in green construction and support a transition toward carbon neutral construction portfolios. By aligning policy and capital, developers can achieve meaningful reductions in embodied carbon in materials across the building lifecycle performance.

Emerging technology continues to enrich sustainable building practices. Research into nanobubble applications for contaminated water treatment illustrates how eco-design for buildings and resource efficiency in construction intersect with environmental restoration. Artificial intelligence tools now perform lifecycle assessment modelling that quantifies the environmental impact of construction before physical work begins. These approaches enhance life cycle thinking in construction and underpin next-generation strategies for low carbon building and energy-efficient buildings.

The evolution of sustainable design is mirrored in evolving assessment systems such as BREEAM and the forthcoming BREEAM v7, which incorporate Whole Life Carbon metrics and end-of-life reuse in construction into certification frameworks. These systems reinforce the move toward circular construction strategies and broader circular economy principles across the built environment. Net zero carbon buildings are becoming the standard for sustainable urban development, with emphasis on low embodied carbon materials and verifiable environmental product declarations (EPDs).

The sector is beginning to view decarbonising the built environment not as an ethical gesture but as a structural shift in economic logic. The alignment of policy, finance, and technology signals that the path to net zero carbon depends on rigorous lifecycle assessment, sustainable material specification, and continuous innovation. Sustainable architecture has become the measure of competitiveness. What once appeared an environmental ideal now defines the future of construction itself.

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