Synopsis
As the climate changes there will be ever-increasing social and economic pressure to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, with focus turning to the embodied carbon in products which has thus far been eclipsed by operational values. Structural engineers will be compelled to account for how they have apportioned carbon intensive resources – particularly steel and concrete – and will be challenged to use them ever more efficiently. In turn, this will alter how designs are formulated and assessed, how structures are built and adapted, and ultimately how engineers approach their roles on projects and in society.