Thousands of wildfires tear through southern Italy every year, fueled by scorching temperatures and the hot, dry, sirocco winds that sweep in from the Sahara. The climate crisis is pouring gasoline on these blazes, but the Mafia may be lighting the spark, according to new research.
The Mafia is "weaponizing" fire in the region for control and financial gain, said UC Berkeley researcher Lauren Pearson. She spent months speaking to prosecutors, the police, environmental groups and locals in Sicily, where Mafia groups are active.
The way Mafias operate — in the shadows and with high levels of control over communities — means hard data linking them to fires is fiendishly hard to pin down, Pearson told CNN. But evidence points to a clear connection between organized crime and wildfires, according to her recent study.
Tap the link in bio for more.
📸 : Salvatore Allegra/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The sustainable construction industry is undergoing structural transformation, driven by digital integration, whole life carbon assessment and measurable environmental accountability. Artificial intelligence is being embedded as a fundamental component of sustainable building design rather than a supplementary feature, optimising resource efficiency and supporting rigorous lifecycle assessment. Its greatest barrier remains organisational culture rather than technical capacity.
Carbon management is maturing from aspiration to precision. Companies are adopting advanced methods to quantify embodied carbon in materials, evaluate the carbon footprint of construction and apply life cycle thinking in construction procurement. The shift towards verifiable data supports informed investment and ensures compliance with stricter regulations on embodied carbon and whole life carbon reporting.
Policy pressure on energy‑intensive sectors reinforces the requirement for net zero carbon buildings and broader decarbonising of the built environment. Governments are tightening rules on supply‑chain transparency, life cycle cost evaluation and end‑of‑life reuse in construction as they promote a circular economy in construction. Firms that embed circular construction strategies, low carbon design and sustainable material specification will remain competitive as low embodied carbon materials become critical to achieving net zero whole life carbon.
Certification systems such as BREEAM and the forthcoming BREEAM v7 revision are defining benchmarks for eco‑design for buildings and environmental sustainability in construction, translating ambitions into measurable outcomes. These frameworks align environmental product declarations (EPDs) with resource efficiency in construction, improving building lifecycle performance and supporting the creation of energy‑efficient buildings.
The sector is converging on a data‑driven, system‑wide model of sustainable design. The integration of green construction methods, sustainable building practices and renewable building materials signals a decisive shift towards carbon neutral construction and long‑term sustainability in the global built environment.
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?
