The global demand for 'green' office buildings has slowed, according to a survey of construction industry professionals, due to Donald Trump's policies that undermine environmental protection. This shift is evident in North and South America, where building occupiers and investors report significantly lower growth in demand for green commercial buildings. The survey, conducted by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), reveals a 25% to 11% drop in professionals reporting higher demand for sustainable buildings. This trend is further emphasized by a 40% growth in demand outside North and South America, still lower than the 48% in 2021 but significantly above the US figures. The UN Environment Programme highlights the significant role of buildings in global carbon emissions, with residential and commercial buildings accounting for 34% of emissions in 2023. Green buildings employ various techniques to reduce environmental impact, including using low-carbon materials, water conservation, and renewable energy sources. Despite this, the RICS survey indicates a decline in the number of construction professionals measuring embodied carbon in their projects, with 46% not measuring it, up from 34% the previous year. Only 16% of respondents found carbon measurement to significantly influence material choices in project design. The Trump administration's efforts to dismantle environmental protections have undermined confidence in green standards, according to RICS's sustainability analyst, Kisa Zehra. This policy shift has led to a perceived blip in the demand for sustainable buildings, as expressed by RICS's acting president, Nicholas Maclean, who acknowledges the public's desire for sustainable practices.
