The last 12 months in a row have each set record high temperatures for their respective month – an unprecedented streak in @nasa’s record. The record months are part of a long-term warming trend driven by human activities, especially greenhouse gas emissions.
May 2024 was the warmest May on record, marking a year of record-breaking monthly temperatures. Around the world, average temperatures were 1.14 °C (~2 °F) warmer than the 1951-1980 May average in NASA’s global temperature record, GISTEMP. Our temperature record starts in 1880 and uses data from instruments on ships and buoys and thousands of stations on land.
The 12 month streak was affected by El Niño, which usually causes warmer temperatures, among other factors. Earth is moving out of El Niño toward La Niña, which can cause relatively cooler temperatures. Even with La Niña’s influence, 2024 will likely be one of the hottest years on record.
This record heat wasn’t just seen on land. Ocean temperatures have also been breaking records. Overall, the ocean is absorbing about 90% of the excess heat in the climate from increased greenhouse gases from human emissions.
#Earth #Climate #ClimateChange #Temperature #Data #Science #NASA
The decarbonisation of construction is moving rapidly from policy to implementation. On Teesside, a major operation and maintenance award for the UK’s first commercial‑scale carbon capture project signals a shift from pilot schemes to large‑scale delivery. The East Coast Cluster development could significantly reduce embodied carbon in materials central to sustainable construction. It aligns with growing demand for low embodied carbon materials and whole life carbon assessment in both new projects and retrofit schemes.
Advances in low carbon design are reshaping plant and logistics. JCB’s introduction of excavators operating on 100% biodiesel offers an immediate pathway to cut the carbon footprint of construction equipment, complementing the move towards carbon neutral construction. Tevva’s hydrogen‑electric truck extends zero‑emission transport options in daily site logistics, supporting the transition to energy‑efficient buildings and greener supply chains that improve lifecycle assessment outcomes and life cycle cost efficiency.
The workforce and regulation are evolving to sustain environmental sustainability in construction. New government funding to address building‑safety competence could accelerate sustainable building design, digital quality assurance, and modern methods using eco‑friendly construction processes. Regulatory tightening on waste management reinforces the importance of circular economy in construction, verified waste routes and end‑of‑life reuse in construction to minimise the environmental impact of construction operations.
Boards across the sector are being urged to embed sustainable building practices and apply life cycle thinking in construction procurement. By locking in low carbon construction materials from carbon capture hubs, piloting renewable fuels and hydrogen drivetrains, and aligning projects with standards such as BREEAM and future BREEAM v7 frameworks, companies can position for net zero whole life carbon performance. The current momentum places the industry closer to achieving true decarbonising of the built environment, where green construction, sustainable material specification, and eco‑design for buildings underpin every decision from design to demolition.
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