The cow's amazing ability to sustain itself by eating nothing but grass is one of the marvels of nature, but it comes at a cost.
As grass ferments in the rumen — one of four compartments in the animal's stomach — it naturally produces methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO2, although shorter lived in the atmosphere. That methane is released through belching and farting, and on average, a single cow can produce about 200 pounds of it per year. The gas is also released by manure, and livestock accounts for about a third of human-related methane emissions, which are collectively responsible for about 30% of global warming.
A vaccine could be an alternative, and the Pirbright Institute in the UK, a virology lab focusing on livestock, is leading a three-year study to develop one. "The appeal of a vaccine as part of the solution is that it's a very well adopted, common practice, with infrastructure able to do this already, and people know about the benefits of vaccination for animal health generally," says John Hammond, director of research at The Pirbright Institute.
Read more at the link in our bio.
📷: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/File
Policy across global construction is diverging. In the EU, revised Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive rules ease near-term disclosure, while UK regulators tighten expectations for biodiversity and habitat protection to meet 2030 nature targets. Market response suggests superficial reporting no longer satisfies investors prioritising measurable outcomes in sustainable construction and environmental sustainability in construction. ESG performance is influencing asset valuation and risk rating alongside whole life carbon assessment benchmarks.
Physical climate risk is altering design parameters faster than sustainability standards evolve. Rising sea levels and climate volatility are reshaping sustainable building design principles, forcing developers to integrate low carbon design, resilient infrastructure, and lifecycle assessment from the outset. Coastal defences, surface water strategies, overheating mitigation, and retrofit solutions now define the building lifecycle performance of energy-efficient buildings. Projects resistant to adaptation risk significant write‑downs, underlining the importance of whole life carbon and life cycle cost analysis in every investment case.
Decarbonisation practice is accelerating. Transport for London’s full transition to solar-sourced electricity demonstrates how large public entities can act as anchors for renewable building materials manufacturing and clean energy procurement through power purchase agreements. The move supports net zero carbon buildings, net zero whole life carbon operations, and lower embodied carbon in materials used for eco-friendly construction. Cornwall’s approval for geothermal lithium extraction points to early domestic circular economy in construction, underpinning future battery supply chains essential for electrified plant and fleet decarbonisation.
For the sector, credibility rests on verified performance, not compliance claims. Developers and contractors are embedding sustainable building practices, circular construction strategies, and resource efficiency in construction into every tender. The shift combines eco-design for buildings with sustainable material specification, supporting a circular economy model and aligning with BREEAM and forthcoming BREEAM v7 frameworks. Carbon footprint reduction, low embodied carbon materials, and long-term end-of-life reuse in construction strengthen financial resilience and investor confidence in low carbon building portfolios.
Capital markets are rewarding delivery tied to measurable environmental impact of construction and decarbonising the built environment outcomes, reinforcing a clear direction toward carbon neutral construction and sustainable urban development grounded in life cycle thinking in construction.
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?
