Improving the operational carbon footprint of buildings by, for example, insulation and electrifying the grid, is one solution. A second solution is to reduce the embodied carbon of constructing a building. Finally, policies and incentives such as creating a lead market need to be put in place to support low-carbon products which contribute to creating lower-carbon buildings.
We need to decarbonise the building sector, which amounts to 39% of global GHG emissions. While traditionally the focus has been on operational carbon, we need to tackle embodied carbon. Reducing embodied carbon in buildings is a multifaceted challenge, involving decarbonisation of manufacturing of construction materials, and of construction operations.
A rise in temperature will lead to a decrease in labor productivity (more dehydration, chronic health diseases and even death) which will further leading to a decline in economic activity. A critical factor to curtail losses in work capacity will be the extent of application of preventive strategies (such as cooling technologies, hydration, and work rotation) in outdoor and indoor work environment. Policy reforms should include long-term and short-term measures to mitigate the impact of heat on workers’ productivity. Long-term measures like reducing greenhouse emissions and short-term measures like providing clean drinking water at the workplace, good air conditioning, shade cover, and utilizing green architects to capture natural air and light.
Urban Mining is the process of recovering and reusing a city’s materials. It is a great way to reduce our waste and recuperate precious metals. It is still a developing process that needs time, research and funding
This article examines an alternative economic model often put forward as a better option for the planet than our current, linear economy: a circular economy. Considering the global and interconnected character of the issues we are facing today, a systemic change is needed. A circular economy is just that: a systemic shift towards a better way.