EIT Climate-KIC has teamed up with a cohort of partners to develop a handbook to help cities reduce embodied carbon in construction.

Globally, buildings account for 39 per cent of carbon emissions, with the share of embodied carbon (arising from manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials) becoming more dominant as energy efficiency increases and energy sources become less carbon intensive. Therefore, dramatically reducing this source of emissions in the construction sector is a priority.

Most construction takes place in urban areas, so cities have a key role to play. Using circular practices and biobased materials (such as timber) are two key strategies to dramatically lower embodied carbon in construction, while offering the potential to secure multiple co-benefits for cities and regions. 

Examples of co-benefits deriving from circular construction (repurposing/reusing, repairing, recovering, recycling, and remanufacturing buildings and components), include de-risking material supply and minimising pollution connected with the extraction of raw materials. The use of timber creates less dust, noise and machinery emissions compared to concrete, leading to faster and less disruptive construction, quieter cities with lower air pollution, and healthier indoor environments. Both strategies increase the opportunity for new economic  activities, including quality, future-orientated jobs. 

These strategies have been proven in lighthouse and pioneer projects but are still far from becoming standard practice. For the shift to bio-based and circular buildings to be possible, the entire construction value chain must be restructured. The portfolio of activities presented in this Handbook is our response to this complex challenge.