Introduction to net zero carbon in construction

Society is facing significant problems due to climate change. The construction industry is a key contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings alone account for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions. Net zero carbon emerged as an essential concept in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector. This chapter aims to establish a clear understanding of the concept of net zero carbon within the construction domain, underscore the vital role of low-carbon practices, and offer valuable historical context of net zero carbon buildings. A systematic literature review was conducted, and the study used a mixed-method research approach. First, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on 413 publications retrieved from the Scopus database. The analysis revealed that research on net zero carbon in the construction sector began in 2004. A gradual increase in publications was evident after 2019, and the UK, China, and the USA were the dominant contributors to the current literature. Second, a qualitative content analysis was conducted on carefully selected 38 articles. The results highlighted two key milestones which shaped the industry’s approach towards a net zero future: the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. During the Kyoto Protocol era, the main research themes included clean development mechanisms, net zero energy buildings, and carbon neutrality goals by countries. This was shifted towards net zero carbon, nationally determined contributions, net zero carbon targets, carbon reduction technologies/ policies, and roadmaps towards carbon neutrality, by the Paris Agreement era.