A new study by a team of researchers, including multiple UVA faculty affiliated with the Environmental Institute, showed that construction materials are responsible for nearly one-third of global carbon dioxide emissions, yet conventional accounting methods capture only a portion of this impact.
The research team, led by engineering PhD student Wade Fritzeen and conducted in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), included Joao Ferreira, Bill Shobe, Scott Doney, and Andres Clarens. The paper was recently published in Resources, Conservation & Recycling,
The study shows that many of the most energy- and pollution-intensive materials, such as cement, steel, metals, and plastics are increasingly being produced far from where they are being used and shipped internationally. This is problematic for nations seeking to develop climate policies given that emissions are often concentrated in the extraction and production phases of the life cycle as opposed to the use and end-of-life.
As global demand for construction has nearly tripled over the past 25 years (especially in rapidly urbanizing regions of Asia and Africa), emissions associated with these materials have surged.
"Materials are the last major frontier in our fight against climate change,” said Andres Clarens, co-author of the paper and Associate Director of the Environmental Institute. “We can't solve what we can't measure, and right now, there is a lot we don’t understand about cement, steel, and other building materials. Until we get serious about tracking these emissions across borders, we'll keep missing our climate targets."
The paper demonstrates that international trade and offshoring obscure the true environmental costs of construction. Many countries outsource the most carbon-intensive parts of the material supply chain, effectively shifting emissions beyond their borders. This practice, known as "carbon leakage," undermines the integrity of national and international policies. Current reporting frameworks often focus only on direct, domestic emissions, allowing a significant portion of global construction-related carbon output to go unaccounted for.
The researchers highlight the need to rethink how emissions are measured and managed in the construction sector. The findings suggest that emission-reduction strategies must expand beyond production-focused policies to consider full supply chains. Without such changes, countries risk underestimating their environmental impact and missing their climate targets.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. Policymakers working to adopt broader carbon accounting frameworks that encompass upstream and downstream emissions associated with construction materials must consider how their policies will adapt with global changes. Additionally, the construction industry and regulators must improve transparency through standardized reporting tools and establish stronger emissions standards across global supply chains. Consumers, architects, and developers also play a role by creating a demand signal for low-carbon building materials. But in order for this market to flourish, there should be better transparency in procurement. Analysis such as this is a first step in moving toward a better-informed market.