Challenges and Strategies for Minimizing Embodied Carbon in China's Building Sector

Strategic Insights -

A new study published in the Energy and Buildings journal explores the challenges and strategies for achieving net-zero emissions in China's building sector, which accounts for a significant proportion of the country's carbon emissions. The research highlighted the importance of embodied carbon (EC) reduction technologies and practices, particularly in the context of concrete and steel used in urban high-rise prefabrication buildings, biomass materials used in rural houses, passive buildings in extreme weather zones, and choices of renovation and demolition.

Key Takeaways:

  • The building sector in China faces unique challenges in achieving net-zero emissions due to the high proportion of embodied carbon (EC) in total carbon emissions compared to developed countries.
  • The research identified key focus areas for EC reduction, including concrete and steel used in urban high-rise prefabrication buildings, biomass materials used in rural houses, passive buildings in extreme weather zones, and choices of renovation and demolition.
  • The study emphasized the need for a systematic review of current research on EC reduction technologies and practices in China's building sector to fill research gaps and provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners.
  • The research highlighted challenges and strategies for minimizing EC emissions in China's building sector, including the importance of sustainable building materials and design strategies.
  • The study was supported by the Natural Science Grant of Hainan Province and peer-reviewed by experts in the field.
  • Xiaowei Luo, Wenshi Lin, and Muhammad Shafique are among the authors of the research, which has been published in the Energy and Buildings journal.

Statistics:

  • The building sector in China accounts for approximately 25% of the country's total carbon emissions (Energy and Buildings, 2025;345).
  • Embodied carbon (EC) constitutes a larger proportion of total carbon emission in China compared to developed countries (Achieving Net-zero Emissions In China's Building Sector: Critiques and Strategies of Minimizing Embodied Carbon, 2025).
  • The research identified 10 key focus areas for EC reduction in China's building sector, including:

+ Concrete and steel used in urban high-rise prefabrication buildings

+ Biomass materials used in rural houses

+ Passive buildings in extreme weather zones

+ Choices of renovation and demolition

Sources:

  • Research article: Achieving Net-zero Emissions In China's Building Sector: Critiques and Strategies of Minimizing Embodied Carbon. Energy and Buildings, 2025;345.
  • Publication information: Elsevier Science Sa, PO Box 564, 1001 Lausanne, Switzerland (www.elsevier.com)
  • Press release: NewsRx. Researchers at City University of Hong Kong Target Energy and Buildings (Achieving Net-zero Emissions In China's Building Sector: Critiques and Strategies of Minimizing Embodied Carbon). China Weekly News. October 21, 2025; p 418.