UN Report & UK Initiative Spark Debate: Phasing Out Modern Building Materials, Reducing Consumption
A United Nations report and a UK-based initiative, U.K. FIRES, have sparked debate with their proposals to phase out modern building materials and reduce consumption habits, aiming to remove oil and gas from industrial society.
The UN report, 'Building Materials and the Climate: Constructing a New Future', advocates for a shift to 'regenerative material practices'. It suggests using low carbon earth and bio-based materials like mud bricks, timber, bamboo, and forest detritus. The report highlights the longevity of massive mud buildings, contrasting with modern structures made from concrete, steel, and glass. The construction sector, responsible for 37% of human-caused emissions, must undergo drastic changes to reduce these figures, according to the report.
U.K. FIRES, funded with a £5 million state grant, goes further, promoting a world with no flying and shipping by 2050. It also suggests drastic cuts in home heating and bans on beef and lamb consumption. Both the UN report and U.K. FIRES call for legislative action and international cooperation to enforce their proposals.
While no recent credible report demands living in mud huts and grass huts with a meat-free diet by 2050, the UN report and U.K. FIRES propose significant changes in building materials and consumption habits. These changes aim to reduce the construction sector's emissions and transition towards a low-carbon future. The success of these proposals depends on international cooperation and regulatory frameworks.
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