Seven months ago, a fiery blaze raged through my ancestral land of...

CNN Climate 2 years ago

Seven months ago, a fiery blaze raged through my ancestral land of Hawaii, consuming thousands of acres, with Lahaina in Maui at the epicenter. Experts say the fires were supercharged by climate change, and native plant species being replaced with less fire-resistant ornamental species. The harm caused to nature since the dawn of the industrial era is so extensive that efforts must be taken to protect what is left and restore what has been degraded. This means immediate action, joining hands, and working together from the poles to the Pacific islands. Even without superpowers, we’re the most powerful creatures in Earth’s history. It remains entirely up to us to determine how that power shall be unleashed. Do we restore Lahaina and other degraded areas using nature-based solutions that build on what had worked for centuries before, or do we let powerful profit-driven corporations steamroll our voices? My appeal to our generation is to embrace and advocate for the restoration of nature and start making waves. Tap the link in @cnn bio to read more of Momoa’s essay for CNN Opinion. 📸 : Courtesy Jason Roman

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 3 hours ago



Bio‑based construction is entering a decisive implementation phase as new engineering standards drive measurable performance and credibility. The release of a structural manual for bamboo transforms renewable building materials from conceptual to certifiable, giving engineers a shared framework for specification, durability testing and fire safety that aligns with standards for steel and concrete. This move advances sustainable construction by supporting low carbon design and enabling embodied carbon measurement across permanent structures. Integrating bamboo into structural use contributes to whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment processes that underpin sustainable building design and environmental sustainability in construction.

The White Rose Forest’s 25‑year strategy to plant 134 million trees across northern England represents a significant link between green infrastructure and construction supply chains. Managed afforestation aligned with local processing, design standards and resource efficiency in construction has potential to deliver low embodied carbon materials, support net zero carbon buildings and embed circular economy principles. Tree planting tied to sawmilling and design verification increases the availability of green building materials while strengthening the regional circular economy in construction.

These developments tighten the bio‑based supply chain from nature to building performance. Developers are urged to adopt sustainable material specification within procurement to reduce the carbon footprint of construction and achieve whole life carbon targets. Early collaboration with insurers and BREEAM assessors can accelerate certification and enable coherent life cycle cost evaluation. Aligning afforestation programmes with industrial capability, testing and environmental product declarations (EPDs) will solidify the foundation for carbon neutral construction and measurable decarbonising of 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.

eco

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?