Guest editorial: Accelerating built environment sustainability: proactive research, policies and procurement

The construction industry accounts for 36% of global energy use, 39% of carbon emissions and approximately one-third of waste generation globally. With the United Nations projecting a population increase of 2 billion within the next 3 decades, reaching around 9.7 billion by 2050, there is a heightened demand for building stock, resulting in increased development. This expansion brings about significant adverse effects such as environmental pollution, climate change and waste generation. Urgent action is crucial to accelerate the built environment towards sustainability. Development of national policies is a critical step towards achieving the net-zero targets by 2050, as was agreed...