Building within the safe operating space

Building within the Safe Operating Space - Nordic Insights on Sustainable Construction

18-09-2024

The construction industry is at a crossroads. With its responsibility for 40% of global carbon emissions and 50% of raw material use, the direction of this sector plays a huge role in the fight against climate change and the need to rethink how we build has never been more urgent.

This publication explores the challenges and opportunities facing the construction sector as it works to stay within planetary boundaries. Through interviews with architects, policymakers, developers, and other experts, SUSTAINORDIC look at ways to lower emissions, reduce resource use, and secure biodiversity both on and off site while securing good housing for a changed demographic in the Nordics. Since 2018, the Nordic countries have been leading this shift, working to align building regulations, promote life cycle assessments (LCA), and set emission limits for new construction. But real change requires more than just reporting requirements and technical solutions - it calls for a full transformation of how we build and live. 

Read the report "Building within the Safe Operating Space" here.