2026-08-17
Turning Whole Life Carbon Data into Action in Hong Kong
The built environment accounts for around 40% of global carbon emissions. In Hong Kong, buildings contribute over 60% of the city’s carbon emissions and consume around 90% of its electricity. Yet reducing these impacts requires a clear and consistent understanding of where carbon sits across a building’s lifecycle.
Arup and Rider Levett Bucknall have jointly published Whole Life Carbon Assessment: Embodied Carbon Quantification in Hong Kong. The whitepaper provides a practical approach to Whole Life Carbon Assessment by combining quantity data from Bills of Quantities with carbon assessment methodologies. Drawing primarily on residential and commercial projects in Hong Kong, with additional reference cases from Chinese Mainland, it examines major building components including substructure, superstructure, envelope, space planning, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and external works.
Identifying carbon reduction opportunities
The study finds that total embodied carbon in Hong Kong typically ranges from 1,100 to 1,400 kgCO₂e/m² across full lifecycle boundaries. This is around 30% to 40% higher than international benchmarks, reflecting the city’s high-rise building typologies and reliance on carbon-intensive structural materials.
Structure accounts for more than half of a building’s embodied carbon footprint, making it a priority area for reduction. Early scheme optioneering, structural optimisation and lower-carbon materials, such as Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag concrete and recycled steel, can deliver meaningful carbon savings with a modest cost premium.
From assessment to everyday decisions
The study highlights four priorities for accelerating industry-wide decarbonisation:
Arup and Rider Levett Bucknall have jointly published Whole Life Carbon Assessment: Embodied Carbon Quantification in Hong Kong. The whitepaper provides a practical approach to Whole Life Carbon Assessment by combining quantity data from Bills of Quantities with carbon assessment methodologies. Drawing primarily on residential and commercial projects in Hong Kong, with additional reference cases from Chinese Mainland, it examines major building components including substructure, superstructure, envelope, space planning, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and external works.
Identifying carbon reduction opportunities
The study finds that total embodied carbon in Hong Kong typically ranges from 1,100 to 1,400 kgCO₂e/m² across full lifecycle boundaries. This is around 30% to 40% higher than international benchmarks, reflecting the city’s high-rise building typologies and reliance on carbon-intensive structural materials.
Structure accounts for more than half of a building’s embodied carbon footprint, making it a priority area for reduction. Early scheme optioneering, structural optimisation and lower-carbon materials, such as Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag concrete and recycled steel, can deliver meaningful carbon savings with a modest cost premium.
From assessment to everyday decisions
The study highlights four priorities for accelerating industry-wide decarbonisation:
- Embed whole life carbon assessment from the concept and procurement stages.
- Use digital tools and artificial intelligence to process quantity data more efficiently and transparently.
- Improve the consistency of assessment methodologies and carbon-factor data, particularly for building services.
- Strengthen collaboration between engineers, quantity surveyors and other project stakeholders.
By connecting carbon with quantity and cost data, the whitepaper provides a practical foundation for setting credible reduction targets and making carbon part of everyday project decisions. This can support progress towards Hong Kong’s 2050 and Chinese Mainland’s 2060 carbon-neutrality commitments.
Download Whole Life Carbon Assessment: Embodied Carbon Quantification in Hong Kong to explore the methodology, benchmarks and recommendations:
https://www.arup.com/insights/whole-life-carbon-assessment-embodied-carbon-quantification-in-hong-kong/
