(C02) Cutting Edge Carbon – Building Collaborations for Innovation and Urgent Action on the Climate Emergency

Innovation within the building industry relies on interdisciplinary teams to collaborate towards meeting aggressive sustainability goals, develop widely adoptable software tools, and build a big tent that all members of the built environment community can join. This session will hear how organizations like Microsoft, Building Transparency, Skanska and the Bloomberg School of Public Health are working together to drive change in how we quantify and minimize carbon, as well as its social and health impacts. Panelists will discuss their thoughts on sustainable innovation, how ideas can take hold and disseminate across the industry, and how all team members are starting to take responsibility for regenerative design, from sub-contractors tracking A4/A5 emissions to software developer taking the uncertainty out of EPDs and program managers leading the charge towards carbon negative. The panel will also discuss the changing nature of the carbon conversation and LEED v4.1 BD+C for New Construction from the domain of mechanical engineers to now include structural engineers, contractors, and beyond. Ideas around the social cost of carbon and environmental justice will also be discussed as an emerging frontier and important aspect of holding ESG investments accountable.