The IPCC recommends reaching carbon neutrality in the next 20 years. The challenge seems gigantic, and to be honest, out of reach when the built environment represents 40% of greenhouse gas emissions. However, I believe, buildings and infrastructure should no longer be considered as a problem, but as a gigantic opportunity. They can store carbon emissions and counteract climate change. They also serve as storage for materials that can later be mined. And instead of reducing air quality, buildings can actually increase it thanks to natural clay plaster.
It's possible to build, right here, right now, climate neutral and circular buildings from year one of construction. CO2 emissions from concrete can be reduced by more than 50% when all stakeholders are engaged, from the cement producers, to concrete manufacturers, structural engineers, architects, demolition companies and waste managers… and rather than oppose massive and lightweight construction we can find synergies where a biobased façade made out of timber framed strawbale is directly compensating the CO2 emissions from the optimised low carbon concrete structure. It is through the appropriate combination of materials and technologies and the synergies between actors that we can achieve climate neutral and circular buildings within such a short period of time. To do so, no material war but rather the promotion of a good material diet. No time to wait for the silver bullet that will save us all. It doesn’t exists… or if it does, it will arrive too late.

Climate neutral and circular buildings, right here, right now