Biomass is considered a sustainable energy source with significant potentials for replacing fossil fuels and electricity for heating purposes.  However, present residential wood combustion can be a significant source of ambient urban air pollutants such as hydrocarbons and particulate matter.  The majority of the wood- ...

During COP26 – the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties – government officials and business leaders will present their latest commitments to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.  Scientists will also discuss efforts to track emissions, understand impacts, and advance potential climate solutions.  With its traditio ...

To meet 1.5° climate targets of the Paris Agreement by 2040, we must eliminate all CO2 emissions from the building sector.  Why the built environment?  Buildings generate nearly 40% of annual global GHG emissions.  Of emissions, building operations are annually responsible for 28% while building materials and construct ...

COP26 is the 26th United Nations annual climate change "Conference of Parties" (COP) to build awareness and stimulate dialog on climate action and participation.  The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is among the largest international meetings of governments, the private sector and civil s ...

Architects and designers are failing to engage with the UN's drive to reduce carbon emissions.  None of the 50 largest architects signed up to the UN’s Race to Zero campaign, which is the UN initiative to get companies to commit to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.  Architects and designers are in a unique position ...

Level(s) is a simple entry point for applying circular economy principles in our built environment and a flexible solution for identifying sustainability hotspots and for future-proofing projects and portfolio. It provides a common language for assessing and reporting on the sustainability performance of buildings. Lev ...

Studies show that consumption by buildings attributable to real estate development around the world is 30-40% per year.  As much as 50% of minerals from natural resources is consumed by the construction industry.  Real estate development produces around 33% of atmospheric CO2 while construction and building operations ...

The impacts of climate change are especially tangible in dense urban areas due to the inherent characteristics of urban structure and materiality.  As the climate change impacts are intensifying, climate adaptation, mitigation and protecting strategies are becoming even more important.  To assess the impacts of climate ...

This is an introduction to the efforts of environmental defenders to protect and conserve the ecological integrity of the ecosystems of their communities.  The fulfillment of the international community’s commitment to the protection of the environment is premised on the empowerment of environmental defenders.  Environ ...

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) discusses the creative use of law as a positive force for social change and developing a distinctive set of tools and strategies.  It suggests employing justice-enabling constitutional principles, applying underutilized rules and rulings, using litigation to move actors out of ...

This theory-building paper argues that there are four mechanisms by which legal strategies can enhance accountability.  The courts can help those affected by policy failures to overcome the collective action problem.  The courts can provide civil society with access to information about rights violations, malfeasance, ...

Service Properties Trust (SVC) sent Marriott a payment shortfall notice on 122 hotels, allowing Marriott 10 days to pay the $11m delinquency. If Marriott fails to make payment, SVC will terminate the agreement and transfer the hotels to flag affiliation with Sonesta International Hotels Corp., of which SVC owns 34%. Th ...

The first six months of 2020 have seen dramatic declines in RevPAR, the closure of many hotels, and the furloughing of many hotel employees. Government support has been provided to hotel staff and owners in many countries. Now that the measures are easing, the number of permanent job losses is likely to increase. As th ...

Independent, state-run ecolabels are characterized by transparent criteria and sound third-party verification, as opposed to greenwashing. "Greenwashing" is a collective term for PR strategies of companies to give themselves or their products and services a green, environmentally friendly, sustainable image. It is misl ...

Companies making "green claims" should substantiate these against a standard methodology, to assess their impact on society and the environment.  The European Commission has launched consultation to regulate green claims in marketing and combat "greenwashing" and is targeting the opinion of the general public and key s ...