Hidden Emissions, Global Impact: Embodied Carbon Policies for a Just and Sustainable Future

This project explores the global adoption of embodied carbon policies, focusing on the economic, environmental, institutional, and trade-related factors driving their implementation. Embodied carbon—generated during the production and transportation of construction materials—accounts for at least 10% of global emissions and disproportionately impacts the Global South, where raw material extraction causes environmental harm while benefiting construction in the Global North. This imbalance perpetuates climate injustice, as vulnerable communities bear the environmental costs without receiving the development benefits. Using data from sources like the World Bank and NASA, the study will employ Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze these factors and inform policy recommendations aimed at reducing embodied carbon emissions. Aligned with the Kellogg Institute’s mission, this research promotes global sustainability, human dignity, and climate justice by addressing inequities in the built environment, particularly for marginalized communities in the Global South.