Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Build Ahead”
India is entering one of the largest construction cycles in history—amid intensifying climate risks and a fast-approaching net-zero horizon. With embodied carbon already accounting for around 30% of built environment emissions—and set to reach 50% by 2050—there’s an urgent need to decarbonise the materials that shape our cities. Cement and concrete alone contribute roughly 45% of a building’s embodied carbon. …
As India’s construction boom reshapes skylines and communities, the built environment stands at a critical inflection point. With the sector responsible for nearly a third of the nation’s emissions—and 60% of the building stock needed by 2050 yet to be built—the choices we make today will define India’s climate legacy for generations. The stakes are high: without bold, systemic action, …
The UK’s built environment stands as the second-largest contributor to the nation’s carbon emissions, and the urgency to decarbonise it is paramount to achieving the 2050 net-zero target. With the sector accounting for a quarter of the country’s total emissions, a radical shift in how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated is essential. Build Ahead UK presents this insight report, …
As India’s construction sector faces unprecedented growth demands, financing the transition to sustainable building practices has emerged as a critical challenge. With 51% of the population expected to live in urban centres by 2047 and an urgent need to address the current housing shortage of 19 million units, finding innovative financial mechanisms for low-carbon construction is essential for India’s journey …
As India’s cement industry grapples with decarbonisation challenges, Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) emerges as a promising solution for sustainable construction. With the sector contributing 6% of India’s fossil fuel and industrial CO2 emissions, there’s an urgent need for innovative, low-carbon alternatives. Build Ahead presents this comprehensive paper examining LC3‘s adoption potential in India. The report explores the technical properties, environmental …
Last month, sales of new battery electric vehicles reached a milestone – hitting 25% of all new car sales for November. Yet, even with this good news, the 2030 ban on the sale of new ICE cars is fast approaching, and overall adoption rates are plateauing. And while Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is placing immediate pressure on automakers to scale production, we need renewed urgency across the entire value chain in tackling the systemic changes and innovations needed to drive growth.
In this article from Xynteo’s Amy Marshall and Ashish Pandey, we unpack some of the key points from our recent EV roundtable discussion – as we all look to a world of zero emissions, electric transportation.
The built environment in India comprising a huge 32% of the nation’s carbon emissions – and ‘embodied carbon’ a third of that contribution – addressing the challenge of carbon-intensive materials used in construction is critical. Today, Build Ahead is excited to launch its Build Better embodied carbon measurement tool as an important step to understand, measure, and tackle our ambitions …
Build Ahead has investigated urban housing challenges in India, explored the carbon emissions associated with the built environment, and proposed a framework for carbon labelling of construction materials. Our research shows that by 2047, the majority of India’s population is expected to live in urban centres, necessitating large volumes of new construction. With the built environment contributing close to 39% …
Build Ahead has investigated the intricacies of the cement manufacturing process, computed potential premiums associated with decarbonising cement, and explored how this impacts end users. Our research shows that existing cement products on average can be made 30% less carbon intensive without impacting construction costs whereas a net-zero product would only lead to a 1-3% increase in construction costs. This …
India is the second largest cement and steel producer, with capacity to produce approx. 7% of global production for both. To urgently kickstart the decarbonisation of these fundamental materials, the government of India should formally begin green public procurement. Strong signals from the public sector will provide the demand certainty that cement & steel producers need to invest in decarbonising …
Insights into consumer demand for green products, especially green building materials and green buildings, are extremely limited in India. This is particularly true for the burgeoning middle-class segment. Through our research, it’s clear that middle-income residents in Tier 1 cities are concerned about environmental quality and already have demand for green buildings and materials. The problem is they are hampered …
To accelerate decarbonisation across the entire construction value chain in India, Build Ahead partners have created and committed to a Charter that captures the mission and objectives of the coalition. As a business-led coalition, Build Ahead is dedicated to collectively achieving a net-zero built environment in India. To accelerate decarbonisation of the whole construction value chain, collective and collaborative action …