Exploring Embodied Ecological Impacts

The world is experiencing a global biodiversity crisis, with a 69% decline in global biodiversity populations since 1970. Although only 1% of the planet’s surface area is used for buildings and infrastructure, the construction sector is one of the most material-intensive sectors in the world, and its enormous impacts extend well beyond the building site. At a Leaders Network event with 50+ c-suite business leaders, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) aimed to convey the impact of material extraction on biodiversity in a way that resonated with business leaders. They worked with artist, activist, and musician Ian Bruce to explore the connection between human grief and biodiversity loss. The event featured the complex story of Lough Neagh and the campaign by Friends of the Earth, Northern Ireland. I (Kiran Pereira) provided more context and helped to connect what was happening at Lough Neagh with the bigger picture. The project was also supported by Tommy Greene, Christopher Hackney, James Orr, and local resident Mary McGuiggan. It turned out to be quite a powerful and moving event. See the video below.

The UKGBC has set out a mitigation hierarchy to reduce the need for material extraction, which, combined with improved supply chain transparency and emerging science-based frameworks, will help put nature on the agenda for the built environment. Learn more about it here.

You can learn more about Lough Neagh and watch our earlier interview with James Orr, Director, Friends of the Earth, NI, here. Read the recent article on Lough Neagh in the Guardian.

As the UKGBC says "it is not one project, one extraction site, one supply chain that is the problem - but collectively we need to be better informed and aware of our impacts on our planet."