Cushman & Wakefield- Sponsor of the Pulse Blog

Sustainability: Understanding Embodied Carbon in Buildings

May 30, 2025

While much attention has been given to reducing the energy buildings use during their operation (like heating, cooling, and lighting), there's another significant source of emissions: embodied carbon. This refers to the greenhouse gases emitted during the production, transportation, construction, maintenance, and eventual demolition of building materials.

 

According to Urban Land, most efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the real estate industry have focused on operational carbon—which makes sense, since building operations account for 28% of global emissions. But as buildings become more energy-efficient, the proportion of emissions from embodied carbon becomes more prominent. Currently, it accounts for about 11% of global emissions. To achieve net-zero goals by 2050, the real estate industry must address these emissions throughout a building's entire lifecycle.

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