Buildings generate 40% of all carbon emissions, and embodied carbon represents nearly a quarter of those emissions. Embodied carbon refers to the emissions associated with the whole life cycle of building materials, from extraction to transportation and construction. As the world's largest architecture and design firm, we specify more building products than any other firm in the world. Our co-CEO Andy Cohen explains why we believe it is more critical than ever for our industry to understand what embodied carbon is, how it impacts the environment, and how the built environment can mitigate this risk.
As we pursue a path towards a net zero future, we are focusing on alternative materials — like mass timber — which have lower embodied energy and can help reduce the footprint of the materials we specify. Learn more about how we're working with industry partners and our clients to create a more sustainable future. Visit gensler.com/about/sustainability.
