The sector is already responsible for 37 per cent of global CO₂ emissions, and it will need to curtail this rapidly if goals to reach net zero by 2050 are to be achieved.

In a new report, Building materials and the climate: constructing a new future, the UN said that repurposing existing buildings typically achieves a 50-75 per cent saving on emissions.

It also called for construction attempts to use fewer materials and embrace those with a lower carbon footprint, such as timber, bamboo and biomass.

While the shift towards bio-based materials could lead to compounded emissions savings in many regions of up to 40 per cent in the sector by 2050, significant policy and financial support is needed to ensure the widespread adoption of the materials.

The report also said that more action would be needed to improve the decarbonisation of conventional materials that cannot be replaced. This mainly concerns the processing of concrete, steel and aluminium – three...