Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment

Buildings contribute at least 39% of annual global energy-related carbon emissions, with at least 25% of those coming from embodied carbon in materials and construction. The document outlines five policy strategies—procurement policy, climate action plans, building codes, low-carbon design, and design for longevity—to stimulate market demand for low-carbon solutions without increasing construction costs or government spending.

• Buildings are responsible for at least 39% of global carbon emissions related to energy every year, and at least one-quarter of these emissions are attributed to embodied carbon, which refers to emissions from construction and building materials.
• Policymakers can drive the adoption of low-embodied-carbon buildings by using regulations and incentives for the private sector and establishing standards for public projects, which helps commercialize affordable reduction solutions.
• The document proposes five specific policy strategies to reduce embodied carbon: procurement policies for materials; integrating embodied carbon into climate action plans (including waste management and historic preservation); incrementally introducing embodied carbon into building codes via disclosures or limits; adding requirements to zoning and land use regulations for deconstruction and reuse; and using executive orders to create clean product standards or carbon sequestration tax credits.

APA

RMI (n.d.). Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2021/09/EC_2_Pager_For_Policymakers.pdf

Chicago

RMI. Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment. n.d. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2021/09/EC_2_Pager_For_Policymakers.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment |url=https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2021/09/EC_2_Pager_For_Policymakers.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmindreducing, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment}}, institution = {RMI}, url = {https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2021/09/EC_2_Pager_For_Policymakers.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }