The water around Jamaica had been simmering all summer.
By the time Hurricane Melissa roared ashore Tuesday, that uber-warm Caribbean Sea had helped turn it into a monster: a Category 5 storm with winds reaching 185 miles an hour, tied for the strongest hurricane to strike land in the Atlantic.
Experts say it's a visceral example of what climate change can do to the planet's most fearsome storms — supercharging them with heat and moisture until they become almost unrecognizable from the Atlantic hurricanes of the past.
Jamaica is waking up to devastation, with severe damage to infrastructure including the electric grid, hospitals and schools. But the true extent of the damage in the hardest-hit communities may take days to uncover, as rescue workers and families struggle to reach them.
Human-caused climate change made such hot water far more likely, according to the research group Climate Central.
This type of hurricane behavior is becoming more common. "We've seen a notable uptick in the rates of explosive intensification," with winds increasing by at least 60 mph in 24 hours across most ocean basins, during the past four decades or more, said Steve Bowen, chief scientist at Gallagher Re.
It's what scientists have been predicting, he said: Hotter oceans are going to support "top-tier intensity" hurricanes.
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📸 : NOAA/AP
The UK Government’s Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan has intensified debate around sustainable construction and the need for measurable carbon reduction. The framework aims to align national industry output with carbon budget commitments and accelerate the shift toward net zero carbon buildings. Critics highlight a shortfall in immediate structural change and caution that the policy risks depending too heavily on future technology. Analysts suggest that without robust whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost evaluation, the plan may fail to capture the full environmental impact of construction and building lifecycle performance across the sector.
Major construction firms are evaluating the implications for embodied carbon and whole life carbon calculations, particularly in infrastructure projects that dominate the UK’s emissions profile. Industry bodies continue to press for legislation mandating lifecycle assessment as part of project approvals to ensure that embodied carbon in materials and low carbon construction materials are central to delivery. Integrating circular economy principles and whole life carbon assessment into procurement processes is viewed as crucial for achieving truly sustainable construction outcomes, especially under increasing investor and public scrutiny.
The inclusion of electrification incentives within the government’s plan was welcomed by many sustainable building design specialists and contractors seeking to enhance eco-friendly construction operations. Financial support for low carbon building and energy-efficient buildings offers opportunities to apply low carbon design strategies directly on-site. Greater use of renewable building materials, green building products and low embodied carbon materials could reinforce both BREEAM and the forthcoming BREEAM v7 standards, reinforcing environmental sustainability in construction through measurable improvements in resource efficiency in construction and life cycle thinking in construction.
Policy contrasts across devolved administrations continue to shape the sector’s outlook. Scotland’s decision to defer its landfill ban underscores the need for a more coherent circular economy in construction and wider circular construction strategies. The renewal of the Just Transition Commission demonstrates continued commitment to sustainable building practices that combine decarbonising the built environment with social equity. The move highlights the relevance of environmental product declarations (EPDs) and sustainable material specification in accelerating progress toward net zero whole life carbon performance on major developments.
Research from University College London showing that wind power has saved the UK £104 billion since 2010 strengthens the industrial case for investment in green infrastructure and renewable integration. This evidence suggests that sustainable design and eco-design for buildings not only drive carbon footprint reduction but also deliver long-term life cycle cost savings. For developers seeking to achieve carbon neutral construction targets, these findings bolster arguments for end-of-life reuse in construction and scalable green construction practices. The broader message emerging from both policy direction and academic analysis is clear: the path to sustainable urban development demands precision in measurement, transparency in carbon footprint of construction data and commitment to turning sustainability strategies into quantifiable action.
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
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