One of the most impressive environmental achievements of the last decade has been a near transformation of Britain's national electricity grid. As Britain locked down in April 2020, its grid went without burning coal for two continuous months - the longest coal-free period Britain has experienced since the Industrial Revolution. Other areas, such as the automotive sector, are also moving in an encouraging direction as it pivots further to electric cars. As we work towards the Paris Agreement target of net-zero emissions by 2050, everything appears to be going well - apart from the construction industry. According to the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, the act of constructing buildings, including manufacturing materials such as steel and cement, is estimated to be responsible for 11 per cent of global CO₂ emissions. This is known in the industry as the `embodied' carbon. Some independent academics argue that this may even be a low-ball estimate, with the true figure being closer to 20 per cent when alternative methodologies are used. Once you include the anticipated carbon emissions from buildings' lifetimes - the `operational' carbon - this figure approaches 40 per cent of global emissions. The paper looks at ways to improve this situation.