Seratech carbon-neutral concrete wins Obel Award 2022
British company Seratech has won the architecture-focused Obel Award with its prototype carbon-neutral concrete, which it says is low-cost and easy to scale. More
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Retention of existing buildings must be "the starting point" for major London developments
Large projects in London will have to meet embodied carbon benchmarks and prioritise retaining existing buildings over demolition under updated planning guidance published by mayor Sadiq Khan. More
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Controversial Oxford Street M&S demolition blocked by UK housing secretary
UK housing secretary Michael Gove has halted the planned demolition of Marks & Spencer's flagship store on London's Oxford Street, which was criticised for wasting the embodied carbon of the existing building, to allow the scheme to be reviewed. More
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London mayor reviewing decision to allow Oxford Street M&S demolition in light of new carbon guidelines
London mayor Sadiq Khan is reviewing his decision not to stop the controversial demolition of Marks & Spencer's flagship store on Oxford Street following new guidance on embodied carbon for developments in the city. More
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MP Duncan Baker launches bill to cap embodied carbon in UK buildings
North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker is set to propose a bill to the UK Parliament today that would make it mandatory to calculate and reduce the embodied carbon footprint of new buildings for the first time. More
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Buro Happold pledges to eliminate embodied carbon in projects as part of SE 2050 commitment
Engineering firm Buro Happold has become the latest signatory to the SE 2050 Commitment Program, which unites structural engineering firms behind the common goal to slash embodied carbon emissions from their projects by 2050. More
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Foster + Partners criticises RIBA climate report over "deviation" from global treaty
The UK's largest architecture firm, Foster + Partners, has criticised a RIBA sustainability report backed by nearly 250 built environment organisations, claiming that it contradicts the watershed Paris Agreement treaty on climate change. More
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Three Little Pigs story reinforces prejudices that biomaterials are "terrible"
The fable of the Three Little Pigs highlights negative perceptions about natural construction materials, according to James Drinkwater, head of Built Environment at philanthropic climate organisation the Laudes Foundation. More
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Dezeen's top 10 low-carbon buildings of 2021
As part of our review of 2021, here are 10 examples of low-carbon architecture including buildings made of 3D-printed clay, recycled materials and biomaterials. More
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Foster + Partners sustainability lead calls for more refurbishments and fewer basements to help fight climate change
Architects should reuse existing buildings where possible to reduce embodied carbon and emissions, according to Christopher Trott, head of sustainability at Foster + Partners. More
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Norman Foster calls for "higher standards" on embodied carbon at COP26
Norman Foster has joined a growing number of architects calling for green building certifications that take embodied emissions from materials into account in order to meet net-zero carbon goals. More
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UK net-zero strategy "totally lacking in ambition" say architects
The UK's strategy for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 "does not go far enough" and ignores embodied carbon according to the RIBA and other industry groups. More
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Grimshaw's "completely OTT" Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai caused "significant unnecessary emissions"
A sustainable construction consultant has attacked Grimshaw Architects' Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai for having an embodied carbon footprint of almost 18,000 tonnes – a figure that is double the recommended level for a building of its size. More
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BREEAM and LEED green certification schemes are "meaningless" says Andrew Waugh
Environmental certification schemes for buildings overlook embodied carbon and encourage architects to add unnecessary "systems and gizmos" to achieve high ratings, according to architect Andrew Waugh. More
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UK industry group calls for new rules to force architects to calculate embodied carbon emissions
A group of UK architects, developers and contractors have called for compulsory whole-life carbon assessments of buildings in a bid to tackle "hidden" emissions caused by construction supply chains. More
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Drive to reduce embodied carbon in buildings makes biomaterials market a "really exciting space"
Concerns over carbon emissions caused by the construction process are fuelling a surge of interest in biobased materials according to Arup research and innovation leader Jan Wurm. More
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Lack of embodied carbon regulation "huge blind spot" says Architects Climate Action Network
ACAN is campaigning to introduce embodied carbon regulation in the UK to reduce the emissions generated over a building's entire lifespan. More
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Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator launches to tackle industry emissions
Companies from across the architecture, engineering and construction industries have collaborated to create a free digital embodied carbon calculator that they hope will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and counter climate change. More
