Title: What drives embodied carbon policy? A global perspective on adoption

Journal Article · · Environment, Development and Sustainability
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Abstract Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emission associated with the lifecycle of buildings. Embodied carbon policies are critical for addressing the environmental impact of construction materials and advancing climate goals. Despite their importance, the adoption of embodied carbon policies has been limited globally, influenced by economic, environmental, institutional, and trade factors. This study employs structural equation modeling to analyze 37 countries, testing ten hypotheses across four categorical factors. The base model reveals the significant influence of environmental vulnerability and institutional frameworks on policy adoption, while robustness models confirm the critical role of trade dependencies and economic competitiveness in shaping national embodied carbon strategies. Findings underscore that countries with high climate vulnerability and strong institutional support are more likely to adopt embodied carbon policies. Conversely, trade-reliant nations face challenges balancing competitiveness and sustainability. Policy implications suggest the need for international collaboration to align trade policies with carbon reduction goals, targeted support for vulnerable nations, and the integration of embodied carbon considerations into existing climate frameworks. These results offer a roadmap for policymakers to design more effective and equitable embodied carbon policies, fostering global progress toward sustainable construction and decarbonization.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AR0001683
OSTI ID:
2529512
Journal Information:
Environment, Development and Sustainability, Journal Name: Environment, Development and Sustainability; ISSN 1573-2975
Publisher:
Springer Science + Business MediaCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English

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