Global Carbon Emissions Research Articles

Explaining the changes in the green technology innovation efficiency of construction enterprises

Based on the objective of global carbon emission reduction, the green technology innovation efficiencies of construction enterprises (GTIE–CE) have attracted attention in various countries and regions worldwide. However, researchers have not yet assessed GTIE–CE from the perspectives of asymmetric innovation theory, resource orchestration theory and eco-innovation theory. To reveal the changes in GTIE–CE, an index system is constructed to measure this efficiency based on resource orchestration theory and eco-innovation theory. In addition, based on the asymmetric innovation theory, this study uses the spatial variance function and PVAR model to reveal the evolution mechanism of GTIE–CE with respect to market, government and technology dimensions. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) Regional heterogeneity is present in GTIE–CE in China, and the appearance of high efficiency spreads from the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta to the surrounding areas. (2) The market dimension positively affects the green technology innovation efficiency of construction enterprises, but this effect is delayed. (3) The government dimension significantly promotes the improvement in GTIE–CE, but this effect is delayed. This study provides an integrated theoretical perspective that reveals the mechanism of GTIE–CE, helps to broaden the research in the field of GTIE–CE, in addition to insights from China to further promote the green transformation of these enterprises.

Integrated energy services in parks: Analyzing stakeholder dynamics and innovation under the REITs model through 23 policy documents

Industrial parks are significant consumers of energy, contributing to global carbon emissions and intensifying the need for strategic interventions to meet carbon reduction and energy efficiency goals. In China, the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) model has been adopted to advance the development of Integrated Energy Services (IESs) within these parks. This paper analyzes 23 Chinese government policy documents to explore the key stakeholders in park-based IESs, particularly the central role of energy companies in shaping collective decision-making processes. The study highlights how business models, including financial investment, offline and digital services, and innovative practices, have evolved under the REITs framework to drive the development of IESs and foster collaboration among stakeholders.

Comparative Study of Life-Cycle Environmental and Cost Performance of Aluminium Alloy–Concrete Composite Columns

As is widely known, the construction industry is one of the sectors with a large contribution to global carbon emissions. Despite numerous efforts in the construction industry to develop low-carbon materials, there is a limited number of studies quantifying and presenting the overall environmental impact when these materials are applied in a construction project as structural members. To address this gap, this study focuses on assessing the life-cycle performance of novel structural aluminium alloy–concrete composite columns. In this paper, the environmental impacts and economic aspects of a concrete-filled aluminium alloy tubular (CFAT) column and a concrete-filled double-skin aluminium alloy tubular (CFDSAT) column were assessed using life-cycle assessment (LCA) and life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) approaches, respectively. The cradle-to-grave system boundary is considered for these analyses to cover the entire life-cycle. A concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) column is also assessed for reference. All columns are designed to have the same load-carrying capacity and, thus, are compared on a level-playing basis. A comparison is also made of the self-weight of these columns. In particular, the self-weight of the CFST column is reduced by around 17% when the steel tube is replaced by an aluminium alloy tube, and decreased by 47% when the double-skin technique is adopted in CFDSAT columns. The LCA results indicate that the CO2 emission of CFST and CFAT is almost the same, which is 21% less than the CFDSAT columns due to the use of high aluminium in the latter. The LCCA results show that the total life-cycle cost of CFAT and CFDSAT columns is around 29% and 14% lower, respectively, than that of the CFST column. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the effects of data and assumptions on the life-cycle performance of the examined columns.

Support Carbon Neutral Goal with a High-resolution Carbon Monitoring System in Beijing

Abstract China has committed to peak its carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, known as the Dual Carbon Goals (DCG). To support the DCG, monitoring and assessment of progresses in emissions reduction have become a central research focus. Here we describe the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (JJJ) Carbon Monitoring System, established over the last six years through a collaborative effort of 16 research institutions and universities. The monitoring capability includes ground-based high-precision reference stations, a dense network of medium-accuracy low-cost sensors, carbon satellites, vertical profile samplers, and mobile platforms. Observations using the network have shown CO2 variations from diurnal, synoptic to seasonal-interannual timescales, as well as dramatic on-road changes during the COVID-19 lockdown. High-resolution modeling and data assimilation at km-scale reveal major deficiencies in global carbon emissions datasets at regional/city scale. The inversion found the total fossil fuel CO2 emissions of the City of Beijing to be 117 megatonne (Mt), but much lower than the national-data-based inventories (152 MtCO2). The results have been used in emissions assessment by national and local environmental protection agencies. Similar systems are now being developed in other Chinese cities.

Remarkable Enhancement of Bismuth Nanosphere Catalyst Activity for the Conversion of Electrocatalytic CO2 to Formate by Bromine Doping.

Driven by renewable energy, using electrocatalysis to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) to chemicals is a key technology. It could dim global carbon emissions and promote the carbon cycle. Here, we reported an approach to prepare a Br-doped Bi nanosphere (Br-doped Bi NSP) catalyst for the preparation of formate by electrochemical conversion of CO2. The synthesized Br-doped Bi NSP catalyst manifests high selectivity toward HCOOH. At the applied potential of -0.9 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, it could achieve a maximum FEHCOOH of 98%. It can remain constant, and the degradation is negligible in continuous electrolysis for 9 h. The excellent CO2 reduction performance is due to the electron richness at the surface of Br-doped Bi NSP induced by the electron transfer between Bi and Br. Density functional theory calculations and in situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared measurements were used to predict the underlying catalyst action's pathway. It can be concluded that the introduction of Br is advantageous to the *OCHO formation, which is conducive to the reduction of the determination step. This research could provide a meaningful view into anion-doping effects to enable effiective electrocatalytic material that selectively reduces carbon dioxide into valuable products.

Spatiotemporal Evolution of Territorial Spaces and Its Effect on Carbon Emissions in Qingdao City, China

Land use change has always been a significant factor affecting global carbon emissions. Dissecting the characteristics of territorial space evolution and its impact on carbon emissions is crucial for developing low-carbon-oriented territorial space optimization and governance strategies. This paper calculates the carbon emissions associated with territorial spaces in Qingdao from 2000 to 2020, utilizing land use data alongside various statistical data. Based on the accounting results, the evolution characteristics of territorial spaces and their corresponding carbon emissions, as well as the carbon transition dynamics resulting from space transfer, are analyzed. A carbon transition decomposition formula is then proposed to quantify the differential and spatially heterogeneous impacts of changes in space types and socio-economic development on emissions. The results indicate that: (1) the evolution of territorial spaces in Qingdao during 2000–2020 is characterized by an expansion of living space and a contraction of production and ecological spaces; (2) net carbon emissions rose from 313.98 × 104 tons to 1068.58 × 104 tons, with urban production space contributing the most (69.96% in 2020) due to its significantly high emission density. The spatial distribution of carbon emissions exhibited a stable “northwest–southeast” pattern, with increased dispersion and weakened directionality; (3) the transformation of territorial spaces promoted carbon emissions in Qingdao, with the conversion of urban production space to other uses yielding the most favorable carbon transitions, while the expropriation of agricultural production spaces for urban production and residents’ living has resulted in the most detrimental carbon transitions; (4) socio-economic development shapes the overarching pattern of regional emission density changes, whereas space transfers account for local variations. This paper also identifies priorities for spatial optimization and key sectors for emission reduction. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the carbon emission consequences of territorial space transformation in Qingdao, thereby providing valuable insights for regional spatial planning and optimization aimed at promoting low-carbon development.

Methods, Progress and Challenges in Global Monitoring of Carbon Emissions from Biomass Combustion

Global biomass burning represents a significant source of carbon emissions, exerting a substantial influence on the global carbon cycle and climate change. As global carbon emissions become increasingly concerning, accurately quantifying the carbon emissions from biomass burning has emerged as a pivotal and challenging area of scientific research. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the primary monitoring techniques for carbon emissions from biomass burning, encompassing both bottom-up and top-down approaches. It examines the current status and limitations of these techniques in practice. The bottom-up method primarily employs terrestrial ecosystem models, emission inventory methods, and fire radiation power (FRP) techniques, which rely on the integration of fire activity data and emission factors to estimate carbon emissions. The top-down method employs atmospheric observation data and atmospheric chemical transport models to invert carbon emission fluxes. Both methods continue to face significant challenges, such as limited satellite resolution affecting data accuracy, uncertainties in emission factors in regions lacking ground validation, and difficulties in model optimization due to the complexity of atmospheric processes. In light of these considerations, this paper explores the prospective evolution of carbon emission monitoring technology for biomass burning, with a particular emphasis on the significance of high-precision estimation methodologies, technological advancements in satellite remote sensing, and the optimization of global emission inventories. This study aims to provide a forward-looking perspective on the evolution of carbon emission monitoring from biomass burning, offering a valuable reference point for related scientific research and policy formulation.

Tackling fashion waste from inside the wardrobe: The influence of personal factors on sustainable clothing use practice

Fashion consumption seems predestined for disenchantment, demarcated by low utilization levels and a consumption cycle that is too short to foster emotional attachment. To be sure, what occurs after purchase when clothing is taken home for use is a carbon intensive phase of the product's lifespan that is squarely within the clothing user's control and responsibility. Decreasing the purchase of new garments has the greatest potential to reduce the global carbon emissions associated with fashion consumption, and prolonging clothing's utilization are consumer habits considered critical to this aim. Clothing use, manifest in the wear, care, and repair practice, are a linchpin in determining how much and how quickly fashion becomes waste. Though these use behaviors clearly advance sustainable clothing consumption, the least is known about what occurs between purchase and disposal or why. It is also important to develop a method to measure sustainable use practice and explore the influence of personal factors that determine engagement in such. This research study examined how personal factors (including fashion trend sensitivity, style orientation, frugality) influence sustainable clothing use practices (wear, care, and repair). A quantitative questionnaire was administered online to a representative sample of 420 U.S. consumers. A multi-level path analysis was used to test a proposed model. The results indicate that fashion trend sensitivity, style orientation, and frugality positively influence sustainable clothing use practices. Further, findings reveal that these personal factors explain 80% of the variance in sustainable clothing use, highlighting the critical role of use practice in shaping sustainable clothing behavior.

Sustainable Strategies for Responsible Fashion: Adopting the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Practices

The fashion sector, which contributes approximately 10% to global carbon emissions, exerts a considerable influence on the environment. The rapid pace of fast fashion has intensified both waste generation and resource utilization, thereby rendering sustainable practices an essential requirement. This study examines sustainable methodologies within the fashion industry, with particular emphasis on the implementation of the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (RRR) framework. The article explores how global and local brands in Delhi incorporate such strategies into their operations and gauges consumer awareness and behavior towards sustainable fashion. Studies indicate that barriers faced by brands while trying to achieve sustainability include the high price tag of sustainable materials, minimal recycling facilities, and the price sensitivity of the consumer. Hypothesis testing was used to examine whether the consumer behavior was significant on their purchasing decisions and sustainability. The results reflected that, while there is indeed a growth in awareness, consumers' intentions and actual purchasing behaviors seem to be quite divergent concerning the acceptance of sustainable fashion. Furthermore, the paper makes workable recommendations to make the fashion industry more sustainable by focusing on policy measures, innovations in brands, and education for the consumer. Key Words: sustainable fashion, reduce reuse recycle, consumer behavior, competitive advantage, supply chain sustainability

Mapping the Global Carbon Emissions of Marine Sectors.

The ocean serves as a vital ecosystem for sustaining life on earth and ensuring human well-being. Presently, there is a significant surge in global demand for various ocean-based economic activities, including fishing, shipping, offshore wind energy production, maritime tourism, and so on. However, this growth has also resulted in an increase in emissions from marine sectors, which have not been thoroughly evaluated or analyzed. It is therefore necessary to conduct comprehensive evaluations of the current emissions, covering marine sectors. To address this need, through this Perspective, we have globally analyzed and discussed carbon emissions linked to maritime transportation, marine capture fisheries, marine aquaculture, offshore wind, ocean renewables, and crude oil production. Additionally, we explored country-specific scales for these emissions and discussed points for future research to address the existing gaps. By gaining a better understanding of emissions over the oceans, policymakers could prioritize policy measures for achieving emission reduction goals and promote sustainable ocean development.

Brand extension strategy in the presence of carbon tax regulation policy and social influence

Brand extension is a common marketing strategy used to capture a competitive advantage in the fashion industry and often causes social influence between the parent and sub-brands. On the one hand, sub-brand consumers are more willing to buy products when the parent brand sells well. On the other hand, the parent brand consumers’ purchase intention decreases when the sub-brand product sells too much. The fashion industry also contributes considerably to global carbon emissions. To reach sustainable development goals, governments impose carbon taxes. This paper analyzes how social influence and carbon tax regulations can affect a monopolistic firm’s brand extension strategy. The analytical results show that the firm extends from the parent brand to the sub-brand when the magnitude of social influence is not strong in the absence of a carbon tax, as the market expansion effect dominates the cannibalization effect. When the regulator imposes a carbon emissions tax, the range is further narrowed of the social influence that allows the firm to benefit from brand extension strategy because of the cost effect. Counterintuitively, the brand extension strategy can force the regulator to lower the tax price. Moreover, our findings reveal that social influence exerts an inverse impact on the regulator’s tax pricing decisions, contingent upon the extent of the parent brand’s brand power advantage. Carbon tax regulation hurts the firm and consumer surplus, but benefits the environment and social welfare. Additionally, we reaffirm the robustness of our findings under conditions of asymmetry in the intensity of social influence and different pollution damage functions. Intriguingly, we find that the firm can mitigate the negative cannibalization effect by selling its sub-brand products through a downstream retailer.

A novel design optimization framework to sustain remanufacturability

The ever-increasing global carbon emissions have urged the need for environmentally conscious/sustainable product design, for which the design for remanufacturing (DfRem) is one potential approach. DfRem targets at designing products that have multiple life cycles, thus significantly reducing raw material usage, energy consumption, and carbon emissions. In this paper, we develop a three-stage framework that consists of (1) systematic design space exploration and a multi-objective optimization formulation to minimize the likelihood of failure causes (such as fatigue and wear) and environmental footprint, (2) topology optimization to further reduce material usage without significantly affecting the load-carrying capability of the product, and (3) post-topology optimization design verification to ensure the proposed design satisfies all design constraints. The environmental impact can be assessed at varying comprehensiveness levels (e.g., design and manufacturing phase, use phase) and in terms of carbon or GHG emission, energy use, and waste generation. Because the novel design framework predominantly adjusted the geometry, we focused on mass-based change and energy savings due to sustained remanufacturability. The multi-objective optimization formulation in the first step results in a Pareto optimal set of possible design solutions that the designer can use for the second step. We demonstrate the utility of this framework through a case study of an engine cylinder head subjected to thermo-mechanical loads, where we find that about 5% of the product mass can be conserved with only about a 3% increase in surface area that has a fatigue life less than 10,000 cycles.

Going green, going strong: maximising restaurant performance with sustainable practices

ABSTRACT The food and services sector contributes to global carbon emissions, impacting climate change. This study, organised in a developing country, aims to explore how restaurants in the hospitality industry can enhance their environmental and financial performance through corporate social responsibility (CSR), green orientation, green innovation and environmental strategies. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling, data from 283 restaurant employees were examined. The findings show that CSR and green orientation directly enrich both environmental and financial performance. Moreover, green innovation mediates the association with CSR, green orientation and performance outcomes, with the influence of green innovation on performance further moderated by environmental strategies. These results show that incorporating CSR, green orientation, green innovation and environmental strategies can substantially benefit restaurant performance. This study offers constructive insights into the distinctive challenges and opportunities for sustainability in the food and services industry in the context of a developing country, where short-term economic pressures often dominate long-term sustainability goals.

Upcycling lignocellulosic palm biomass via Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) composting incorporated with Ex-situ fermentation by Bacillus Subtilis

The growing demand of palm oil has caused expanding deforestation- one of the root causes for global warming. Drawn from the recent Conferences of the Parties (COP) 28, 39 % reduction in global carbon emission would need to be met by 2030 and this requires cooperation from all nations. Hence, the palm oil-producing nations could play their parts by upcycling palm waste biomass to promote sustainable palm oil production. Oil palm frond (OPF), a highly abundant biomass resulted from fruit pruning remains underutilized – mainly due to the undesirable biomass moisture level and low conversion technology readiness in the region. Composting OPF via Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) was proposed to overcome the technological barrier. However, OPF was not palatable for BSFL mainly being nutritionally deficient and highly lignocellulosic. Hence, ex-situ fermentation via Bacillus subtilis followed by blending with decanter cake (DC), nitrogenous palm waste was studied prior to BSFL composting. Results showed that treatment E (OPF:DC 3:7 wt) led to the highest BSFL weight gain (49 %) and biomass degradation (58 %) after 20 rearing days. The reared larvae consisted of 30 % and 22 % crude protein and lipid, respectively – making them an ideal insect meal. Overall, this research aims to give a preliminary overview of employing BSFL in composting highly recalcitrant palm waste biomass.

Reverse logistics for electric vehicles under uncertainty: An intelligent emergency management approach

The frequency and intensity of global disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, are increasing, necessitating effective emergency logistics management. Climate change significantly contributes to these events, emphasizing the importance of limiting human and environmental impacts. The transportation sector, particularly the automobile industry, ranks second in global carbon emissions, highlighting the need to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce emissions and minimize the impact of climate change. However, this has led to an increase in demand for lithium-ion batteries. During emergencies, end-of-life (EOL) battery management through reverse logistics is essential because recycling EOL batteries can recover valuable raw materials, decrease landfill waste and costs, and support environmental sustainability. This study proposed a two-phase method for intelligent emergency EV battery reverse logistics management. The first phase employed machine learning to address unpredictable battery demands, whereas the second phase proposed a multi-objective model to minimize carbon emissions through efficient order allocation during uncertain emergencies. The model considers carbon emissions and defect rates as sources of uncertainty, current regulations, and customer environmental awareness. The model is solved using the weighted sum and ε-constraint methods, resulting in non-dominant solutions. The findings indicate that combining the selection of third-party reverse logistics providers (3PRLPs) with optimal order allocation for recycling old batteries during emergencies effectively minimizes environmental impacts and combats climate change.

Compressive Strength and Chloride Ion Penetration Resistance of GGBFS-Based Alkali-Activated Composites Containing Ferronickel Slag Aggregates

Various studies have reported the use of alkali-activated composites to enable sustainable development in the construction industry as these composites eliminate the need for cement. However, few studies have used ferronickel slag aggregates (FSAs) as an aggregate material for alkali-activated composites. Alkali-activated composites are environmentally friendly and sustainable construction materials that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cement production, which accounts for 7% of global carbon emissions. In the construction industry, various research was conducted to improve the performance of alkali-activated composites, such as changing the binder, alkali activator, or aggregate. However, research on the application of ferronickel slag aggregate as an aggregate in alkali-activated composites is still insufficient. In addition, the effect of ferronickel slag aggregate on the performance of alkali-activated composites when using calcium-based or sodium-based alkali activators has not been reported yet. Thus, this study prepared ground granulated blast-furnace slag-based alkali-activated composites with 0, 10, 20, and 30% FSA as natural fine aggregate substitutes. Then, the fluidity, micro-hydration heat, compressive strength properties, and resistance to chloride ion penetration of the alkali-activated composite were evaluated. The test results showed that the maximum temperature of the CF10, CF20, and CF30 samples with FSA was 35.4–36.4 °C, which is 3.8–6.7% higher than that of the CF00 sample. The 7 d compressive strength of the sample prepared with CaO was higher than that of the sample prepared with Na2SiO3. Nevertheless, the 28 d compressive strength of the NF20 sample with Na2SiO3 and 20% FSA was the highest, with a value of approximately 55.0 MPa. After 7 d, the total charge passing through the sample with Na2SiO3 was approximately 1.79–2.24 times higher than that of the sample with CaO. Moreover, the total charge decreased with increasing FSA content.

Nanoscale Understanding on CO2 Diffusion and Adsorption in Clay Matrix Nanopores: Implications for Carbon Geosequestration.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) in subsurface reservoirs represents a highly promising and viable strategy for mitigating global carbon emissions. In the context of CCS implementation, it is particularly crucial to understand the complex molecular diffusive and adsorptive behaviors of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) in the subsurface at the nanoscale. Yet, conventional molecular models typically represent only single-slit pores and overlook the complexity of interconnected nanopores. In this work, finite kaolinite lamellar assemblages with abundant nanopores (r < 2 nm) were used. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to quantify the spatial distribution correlations, adsorption preference, diffusivity, and residence time of the CO2 molecules in kaolinite nanopores. The movement of the CO2 molecules primarily occurs in the central and proximity regions of the siloxane surfaces, progressing from larger to smaller nanopores. CO2 prefers smaller nanopores over larger ones. The diffusion coefficients increase, while residence times decrease, with the pore size increasing, differing from typical slit-pore models due to the pore shape and interconnectivity. The perspectives in this study, which would be challenging in conventional slit-pore models, will facilitate our comprehension of the CO2 molecular behaviors in the complex subsurface clay sediments for developing quantitative estimation techniques throughout the CCS project durations.

Terrestrial support of wetland food webs via a dissolved inorganic carbon pathway

AbstractStudies of terrestrial support of aquatic food webs have focused primarily on terrestrial organic matter (t‐OM) directly used by animal and microbial consumers. However, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) released from t‐OM might also support aquatic primary producers, a key resource for zooplankton and upper trophic levels. Using 2‐yr 13C measurements of algae, zooplankton, terrestrial detritus, sediments, dissolved and particulate organic matter from six seasonal wetlands, we found that in January when algal concentration was low, zooplankton used t‐OM directly or heterotrophic microbes that decompose t‐OM, but in March and May zooplankton was mainly supported by algae as their basal resources, and the algae used DIC derived from the mineralization and methanogenesis of t‐OM, suggesting the DIC pathway of terrestrial support of aquatic food webs. The decomposition of abundant t‐OM from both bed sediments and water column caused high concentrations of DIC. Despite uptake by algae, about half of DIC produced in January and March ended up as emissions to the atmosphere in the form of CO2. This finding revealed the dual roles of t‐OM in maintaining the productivity and stability of aquatic food webs and in contributing to global carbon emissions. This duality poses challenges for simultaneously mitigating carbon emissions and conserving biological communities in seasonal wetlands. Finally, wide seasonal differences in δ13C in DIC (−12.4‰ to 6.7‰) were observed, mainly driven by air–water CO2 exchange and photosynthesis, suggesting that 13C may be a powerful tool to investigate carbon cycling in shallow, temporary freshwater ecosystems that are widespread but understudied.

High Resolution (30 m) Burned Area Product Improves the Ability for Carbon Emission Estimation in Africa

AbstractFire significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The current global burned area (BA) products mainly have coarse native spatial resolution, which leads to underestimation of global BA and carbon emissions from biomass burning. Performances of BA products in Africa from GABAM (30 m), MCD64A1 (500 m), GFED4s (0.25°), FireCCI51 (250 m), and GFED5 (0.25°) were compared. From 2014 to 2020, GFED5 detected the most BA, 1.58 times more than GABAM during the same period. GABAM detected 0.09 Mkm2 more burned area than FireCCI51 on average. From 2014 to 2016, GABAM detected an average of 2.99 Mkm2 of BA in Africa, which was 1.03 times more than GFED4s. From 2014 to 2021, the average African BA derived from GABAM was 2.89 Mkm2, 1.22 times more than MCD64A1. The increase in BA will inevitably lead to an increase in the estimation of carbon emissions from biomass burning. Based on GABAM products and GFED framework, we estimated the average vegetation burning carbon emissions in Africa from 2014 to 2021 to be 1113.25 Tg, which is higher than GFED4s' carbon emissions in the same time period. This shows that the use of high‐resolution (30 m) burned area products to estimate carbon emissions can effectively avoid the underestimation of overall fire carbon emissions.

Building shape optimization based on interconnected embodied and operational energy and carbon impacts

Strategic building design decisions informed by a comprehensive life cycle impact assessment hold substantial potential in addressing global energy consumption and carbon emissions, with buildings accounting for 40% of energy consumption and 37% of emissions. While building operational energy (OE) has traditionally received greater attention, the dynamic trade-offs between OE and embodied energy (EE) in building design are often overlooked. Design decisions, such material selection and building shape, can present conflicting considerations between OE and EE. Addressing these impacts in isolation may fail to achieve comprehensive reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions. This study highlights the necessity of a holistic approach to design decisions such as building shape and material selection, emphasizing the importance of considering both OE and EE simultaneously. Our literature review confirms a gap in studies that consider these factors together in the context of building shape optimization. To analyze the interconnectivity of building shape design, material choice, and the trade-offs between OE and EE, we devised two parametric test cases with identical features but using two different insulation materials: hemp-based and glass wool. The analysis allows us to (1) evaluate the impact of integrating total lifecycle impact on building shape design optimization, in comparison to designs that focus solely on OE; (2) assess how the selection of materials, specifically hemp-based versus glass wool insulation, influences optimized building shape and carbon emissions reduction; and explore the benefits of bio-based materials by analyzing performance variations in the two insulations case studies. Our findings reveal that although OE typically has a larger impact over a building’s lifetime, the optimal building shape can still vary significantly based on the EE contribution. The benefit of bio-based material is context-dependent, varying with factors such as the building shape discussed in this paper, as well as other factors such as climate. In our test cases, we observed that shape variations resulted in up to a 17.9% change in OE due to different building shapes, and a 60.7% variation in the envelope’s surface area, while the building area remained unchanged. This expanded understanding will facilitate more informed and sustainable decision-making in the construction and design industries, addressing the often-overlooked interconnectivity of OE and EE.