The latest Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, published by UNEP and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), highlights key progress and unresolved issues within sustainable construction. It emphasises the importance of sustainable building practices and stresses the pressing need for global industry leaders to accelerate commitments toward energy-efficient buildings, embodied carbon reduction, resource conservation, and achieving net zero carbon targets. This aligns closely with wider aims of reducing the environmental impact of construction worldwide.

In the UK, a new energy-from-waste incineration plant has recently been granted planning permission by Energy Security and Net-Zero Secretary Ed Miliband, despite earlier objections. The approval, the first of its kind since the current UK Government took office, brings renewed attention to sustainable waste management debate, particularly regarding the project's potential for carbon footprint reduction in waste management and supporting lower-carbon energy generation.

The UK Treasury has simultaneously confirmed extensive regulatory reform aimed at promoting sustainability, sustainable urban development and effective climate action. Labelled as "radical," the revision targets streamlined governance frameworks to better enable sustainable construction, improved lifecycle assessment, and circular economy initiatives. These policy changes directly respond to criticism over perceived inadequacies in current regulatory frameworks in addressing environmental sustainability in construction, resource management, and facilitating sustainable investment.

Spitfire Homes has started construction work on its latest sustainable residential development comprising 182 new homes in Coventry, UK. Situated on a 12-acre site at Cromwell Lane, the project demonstrates ongoing industry commitment to eco-friendly construction methods and sustainable design principles. This new low carbon building initiative prioritises lifecycle assessment to minimise the embodied carbon and whole life carbon impact, reflecting increased industry attention toward environmental impact reduction in new developments.

Scottish rail operator ScotRail is currently testing renewable, low-impact fuels by trialling Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) on select train services, working in partnership with Angel Trains and Crown Oil. Spanning a period of 12 weeks, the programme seeks viable, environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional diesel, potentially providing sustained benefits for sustainable transport and reduced lifecycle carbon emissions across Scotland’s rail infrastructure.

At a broader global level, UNEP's recent partnership with the Zero Waste Foundation aims to deliver measurable improvements in waste management and sustainability. Through data-led initiatives and collaborative engagements, the partnership supports global efforts towards sustainable construction, resource use efficiency, and the worldwide adoption of circular economy principles. Through such initiatives, two fundamental goals—environmental protection and achieving net zero carbon emissions—become more attainable on a global scale.