Substituting carbon-intensive materials like steel and concrete with eco-friendly options such as timber and bamboo could cut emissions by 40% by 2050.
The initiative emphasizes the need for more policy and financial support to widely adopt renewable bio-based building materials.
A "circular approach," involving building less and repurposing existing structures, can significantly reduce emissions by 50-75% compared to new construction.
Retrofitting encourages the use of fewer materials with a lower carbon footprint, promoting reuse or recycling in construction.
Concerns are raised about the substantial emissions (23%) linked to processing concrete, steel, and aluminum on a global scale.
Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is feasible with appropriate government policies, incentives, and regulations, especially as rapid urbanization contributes to 37% of global emissions from the built environment.