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Buildings as a global carbon sink

Author

Listed:
  • Galina Churkina

    (Yale University
    Member of the Leibniz Association)

  • Alan Organschi

    (Timber City Research Initiative
    Yale University)

  • Christopher P. O. Reyer

    (Member of the Leibniz Association)

  • Andrew Ruff

    (Timber City Research Initiative)

  • Kira Vinke

    (Member of the Leibniz Association)

  • Zhu Liu

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Barbara K. Reck

    (Yale University)

  • T. E. Graedel

    (Yale University)

  • Hans Joachim Schellnhuber

    (Member of the Leibniz Association)

Abstract

The anticipated growth and urbanization of the global population over the next several decades will create a vast demand for the construction of new housing, commercial buildings and accompanying infrastructure. The production of cement, steel and other building materials associated with this wave of construction will become a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Might it be possible to transform this potential threat to the global climate system into a powerful means to mitigate climate change? To answer this provocative question, we explore the potential of mid-rise urban buildings designed with engineered timber to provide long-term storage of carbon and to avoid the carbon-intensive production of mineral-based construction materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Galina Churkina & Alan Organschi & Christopher P. O. Reyer & Andrew Ruff & Kira Vinke & Zhu Liu & Barbara K. Reck & T. E. Graedel & Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, 2020. "Buildings as a global carbon sink," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(4), pages 269-276, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:3:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1038_s41893-019-0462-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0462-4
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