They were once a refuge from the chaos above, but now our subways are more hazard than haven: The infrastructure that powered the last century of urban life was not built for the one we're in.
In 2012, Superstorm Sandy inundated the oldest and lowest stations in Manhattan and inspired innovations like an inflatable plug big enough to seal off an entire tunnel and keep floodwater corked and contained. But these systems require setup time, which is possible before a hurricane surge, but worthless during rain bombs that can turn streets into rivers in minutes.
While parts of London's Tube have flooded several times in the past few years, scorching summers create a fresh hell, enhanced by the heat-trapping clay geology. Only 40% of the London Underground system is air conditioned, mostly on lines closer to the surface and those that run above ground. New trains on the Piccadilly line will soon come with relief, but some may never have it.
Read more at the link in our bio.
📷: Bruce Leighty/Alamy Stock Photo; Jose Sarmento Matos/Bloomberg/Getty Images; Selcuk Acar/Anadolu/Getty Images
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched a global consultation on sustainable construction standards to address inconsistent adoption of frameworks across markets. This move directly impacts how whole life carbon and embodied carbon in materials are measured and reported. Establishing a consistent whole life carbon assessment is crucial to driving environmental sustainability in construction and setting reliable benchmarks for low carbon building and infrastructure.
A companion RICS report highlights the growing role of digital technology in sustainable building design. Artificial intelligence is shown to improve material optimisation, cut embodied carbon in materials, and reduce the overall carbon footprint of construction. Despite the promise, firms face challenges in digital capability and integration. Improving skills in lifecycle assessment and life cycle thinking in construction will be vital for accurate building lifecycle performance and for delivering successful net zero whole life carbon strategies.
In North America, industry consolidation is signalling a strengthening of sustainable building practices. The acquisition of Gaskins + LeCraw by Pape-Dawson consolidates engineering, environmental surveying, and permitting expertise. This broader skillset supports the delivery of eco-design for buildings, sustainable urban development, and circular economy in construction models. The merger points to stronger capacity to specify low embodied carbon materials and align projects with BREEAM and other sustainable design standards.
Investment in renewable energy directly tied to construction is also expanding. TDK Ventures is backing geothermal innovator Rodatherm, which targets lower carbon footprints in heat supply for energy-efficient buildings. The development of new renewable building materials together with such low carbon construction technologies is key to sustainable building practices. This also ties into wider circular construction strategies and resource efficiency in construction efforts, both central to decarbonising the built environment.
A new agreement between the UK and US to accelerate nuclear power deployment influences long-term sustainable infrastructure planning. Nuclear’s role in the low carbon energy mix intersects with construction sustainability, as large-scale building projects must consider whole life carbon accounting, life cycle cost reporting, and net zero carbon targets. This development places pressure on contractors and designers to adopt green construction strategies and minimise the environmental impact of construction while meeting regulatory requirements.
Advances in ESG data and sustainability reporting tools are also reshaping construction finance. The partnership between Novata and S&P Global Sustainable1 focuses on greater transparency and accountability, reducing risks of greenwashing. Better data on environmental product declarations (EPDs), sustainable material specification, and building lifecycle performance will strengthen confidence in climate-aligned investment. Such precision drives progress towards circular economy goals and builds trust in carbon neutral 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
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