Why Construction Holds the Key to Climate Action
- Rebecca Heald
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
The Pledges Were Made So Why Are We Still Falling Short?
In 2015, global leaders made history at COP21 in Paris. The Paris Agreement was a commitment to keep global heating "well below 2°C" and ideally limit it to 1.5°C. The United Kingdom became the first major economy to legally commit to net zero by 2050.
Fast forward to today, and the headlines are telling a different story.
In 2023, global greenhouse gas emissions hit a new high of 57.1 GtCO₂e, a 1.3% rise from the previous year. Despite bold promises, the numbers are going in the wrong direction.
The Science is Clear. The Politics is Not.
Reports from the IPCC and UNEP are blunt: To have any chance of staying below 1.5°C, we must cut an extra 19–24 GtCO₂e from global emissions by 2030.
Yet most G20 nations are nowhere near their targets. Seven of them haven’t even peaked their emissions, a basic step toward meaningful reduction.
In fact, progress has stalled. Since COP26, only one country has strengthened its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the backbone of the Paris Agreement. The rest? Treading water or drifting backwards.
We’re Already Feeling the Heat
This isn’t about a distant future. This is now.
Extreme weather is the top global risk in 2024, according to the World Economic Forum.
Food systems are breaking down, major crops like maize and fisheries are already seeing yield declines in warming zones.
Heat and humidity risks are expected to make parts of the world unliveable 50–150 days a year and in some regions, every single day.
At 3°C warming, 100% species loss is projected in some areas.
We’re not heading for crisis. We’re in it.
The Built Environment: The Hidden Giant
Here’s what most people don’t realise: The construction industry is not just contributing to this crisis, it’s holding one of the biggest levers for change.
Between 2020 and 2060, the world is expected to double its building floor area. That’s like adding an entire New York City every month for the next 40 years.
The cost of doing that the “business as usual” way?Up to 230 gigatons of embodied carbon.
But here’s the game-changing truth:
If the built environment reaches zero carbon by 2040, we can still hit the 1.5°C target.
This means we don’t need a miracle, we need intentional leadership in planning, procurement, design, materials, and construction.
Construction is Not the Problem. It's the Opportunity.
While we’re waiting for global treaties to land and governments to align, the construction sector has immediate power to act.
You don’t need to wait for permission to:
Decarbonise your projects
Demand low-carbon materials
Shift to regenerative design
Rethink your supply chain
Train your teams for tomorrow, not yesterday
We’re not lacking in data. We’re lacking in courageous, aligned, inclusive leadership.
We Need More Than Net Zero
This is a leadership challenge disguised as a climate challenge.
Most companies treat net zero like a technical exercise, a calculation to be outsourced, spreadsheeted, and forgotten about.
But when you pull back the curtain, the real blockers are:
Poor communication across teams
Short-term thinking
Toxic culture and decision-making paralysis
Outdated leadership habits
Fear of risk
That’s where my work with The Heald Method™ comes in, helping construction leaders align strategy, leadership, and sustainability into one bold, deliverable mission.
Because when people are aligned, brave and well-led, projects deliver. When they’re not, they stall, bleed money, or quietly destroy the future we say we’re building for.
Conclusion: The Time for Talk is Over
We’ve got:
The science ✅
The roadmaps ✅
The policies ✅ (mostly)
The urgency ✅
What’s missing?
Execution. Alignment. Leadership.
So here’s the truth:
🌍 Climate breakdown isn’t a future event. It’s now.
🏗 Construction isn’t just part of the problem. It’s the solution.
🧠 And the greatest carbon-saving tool? Bold, inclusive leadership.
Want to Lead Differently?
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Because building better buildings means building better leaders first.
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